Tuesday, February 27, 2007

American Accents

What American accent do you have?
Your Result: The Midland
 

"You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.

Philadelphia
 
The South
 
North Central
 
The West
 
Boston
 
The Inland North
 
The Northeast
 
What American accent do you have?
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz


What this quiz doesn't address is the pacing of speech, which I think has a bearing on regional dialects. Family members have often pointed out that I talk too fast in casual conversation. They're right. It's a nervous habit. I worry that if I don't say what I need to say fast enough, I will forget what I have to say. I do best when I first think about what I need to say. I'm comfortable speaking in front of a crowd during storytimes and library programs because I've mentally rehearsed beforehand. That rehearsal may have taken all of 10 seconds, but it's enough to give me a foundation.

On the flip-side, I listen to others much more than I used to. Some people may think it's a developing maturity as a result of becoming a mother, entering my thirties, or whatever else is supposed to age a person. It has nothing to do with maturity on my part. It's just easier now. As long as you are satisfied with general listening noises, I can listen and listen. However, please don't take it amiss if I drift off into a doze. If anything, be flattered: your vocal inflections are soothing.

3 comments:

Lone Star Ma said...

I also got midland, notwithstanding the interspersal of words like "y'all" in my vocabulary - they should have asked about how you say oil(: My early theatrical training did made my speech a bit neutral for my region, though. I think you are right, though. My accent may be midland but the rhythm of my speech is all Tex-Mex.

limpy99 said...

When I read that you talk rapidly I automatically started reading this post as though you were speaking rapidly. It's pretty funny.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

According to this quiz I am from the Inland North which is true but people never ever ask if I am from Wisconsin or perhaps Chicago! Both are a long way from the steel city of Sheffield!