Replies

Funny, I've met very few in VA that have a southern accent, including those that have lived here all of their lives. Interestingly enough it seems there is a sort of "Virginia Accent" because I've been told that my accent is sort of strange by southerners and northerners since it is distinctly not southern, northern nor is it midwestern. IMO it's just that the various accents are merging into a pan-American accent.

I know people all over that great commonwealth, and I have certain impressions of the accents in different areas. Tell me if you agree. In No. Va., they sound mid-atlantic but with a slower cadence. In the tidewater area they have a kind of aristocratic drawl, like Foghorn Leghorn. In the western part of the state they have a highland southern accent, more melodic and twangy. I'm generalizing of course, but there do seem to be distinct differences.

I agree with you. I've been here (Va.) four years (grew up in California, lived in TX a little while) and I find that we Northern Virginians sound just like the vanilla on TV, only a bit slower and with a hint of a lazy drawl. The only 'Southern' colloquialism I really hear anyone use here is "y'all."

Down at the beach, the people all sound like the 'good ol' boy' onscreen politicians the article referred to. It almost sounds overdone a la Foghorn Leghorn, only they talk quick enough you know it's natural.

I haven't spent much time in the towns out west (only been hiking and camping with other Beltway-types), but when I meet someone from there I usually think they're from Kentucky or Tennessee at first listen.