Boston is the most horrible IMO but I was born in the Bronx and grew up in a Philly suburb. Wooder instead of water. When I went into a 7-11 store after many years I was talking to the owner and he said that originally he could tell what other towns nearby someone was from by their accent. LONG ago. Probably 50 years. Everyone talked to their neighbors though. Not anymore. My favorite accent is the Texan accent. Lived in MO for 13 yrs and say y’all once in a while.
Thanks for your post 41. Interesting comments.
“Y’all” is a perfectly good shorthand word, as you have found.
Here in central Virginia I hear nothing that resembles what I think of as a Southern accent. Too many northern transplants, I suppose.
I’m looking forward to going down to Alabama soon to celebrate my birthday. There, you hear the real thing. Contrary to common perceptions, Alabama’s accent is soft and real easy on the ears; I could sit and listen to my nieces talk all day long. Mind you, the speech of some folks there is a bit unpleasant and fits the Southern backwoods stereotype.