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November 13, 2005
Dialects
I don't notice my dialect that much but I am often told that I have a big Boston accent. I grew up in Haverhill, MA my whole life, right on the border of NH and only 40 minutes away from Boston. Both of my parents are from outside of Boston, Saugus and Lynn. So I spent a lot of time in those two cities visting family and such. I think that is where I get my Boston accent from, saying "pahk ya caa in haavad yad" instead of the normal way. I am told that I talk fast also, which is another common part of the New England Boston area dialect. I tend to use "wicked" too much as alot of people do and i add extra emphasis to different parts of words that normally aren't emphasized. For example I catch myself saying "miYEN" instead of "mine."
I agree that social factors influence people's dialects. For me, I talk differently to my friends then I do to my parents than I do to a person I don't know. When I answer the phone at work, I use a hgiher pitched, softer voice and I don't sound like me noramlly. When I'm in class, I don't speak slang words or like I would with just friends (or atleast I try not to) but rather I try to present myself more formally and I do that by changing the way I speak and what words I use. I also agree that there are dialects such as "Sufer dude" and "valley girl" My friends and I used to joke that I sounded like a valley girl when I was younger.
Posted by lcisnelson at November 13, 2005 05:02 PM