What gives with Pennsylvania?

[WheresFanny]

My wife pointed out a long time ago that Texans pronounce the t in water like a d, so we say wahdder. I do not respond to my wife that the English tend to drop r at the end of of word, so she says watah.

But they need those extra Rs to stick onto the words that don't come with one.

And all those R's have gratuitous U's stuck behind them.....

lb13

Why should perfectly good U's go to waste? Rollover minutes are just as good as new ones!

[littlebeast13]

But they need those extra Rs to stick onto the words that don't come with one.

And all those R's have gratuitous U's stuck behind them.....

lb13

Why should perfectly good U's go to waste? Rollover minutes are just as good as new ones!

OK, now I miss my old friends Expired_Salad_Dressing, Rancid_Sour_Cream, and of course Maggotty_Croutons......

lb13

[BigDrawMan]

It seems that, from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, Pennsylvanians seem unable (or unwilling) to pronounce a long e.

Is it an accent, an affectation, poor spelling or just some Pennsylvania thang (I wouldn't understand)?

rilly?

[VAdame]

It seems that, from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia, Pennsylvanians seem unable (or unwilling) to pronounce a long e.

Is it an accent, an affectation, poor spelling or just some Pennsylvania thang (I wouldn't understand)?

rilly?

Hey, watch out -- you'll hurt our fillings with that talk

Eileen just emailed me back -- her husband Rob does indeed say drink "wooder" and enjoy a nice cold "wooder ice" on a hot summer day! She says she will let me know about "Eagles vs Iggles" -- she wants it to come up naturally in conversation rather than have to think about it.

BTW, we found out this past weekend that Eileen absolutely hates the Dexy's Midnight Runners' song about her namesake! Wonder why?? Probably the same reason I hate Run DMC's "Mary Mary."

[SportsFan68]

BTW, we found out this past weekend that Eileen absolutely hates the Dexy's Midnight Runners' song about her namesake! Wonder why?? Probably the same reason I hate Run DMC's "Mary Mary."

Probably not the same reason I hate "Jean" from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I hate it because it sounds like a dirge.

[mellytu74]

I don't know if it's even a conscious thing, really.

I mean, I don't know anyone who deliberately says "Iggles" rather than Eagles to get some bogus street cred or something.

That was my main wonder, whether it was just a phonetic spelling of an accent or just something to try and be cutesy.

What you see here is definitely the phoentic spelling of the accented pronunciation of Eagles. And, as far as I can tell, it's really the only thing it applies to.

I mean, even though Snoopy is a biggle, I don't think you'd ever see anyone actually write that, except in an article about Philadelphia accents.

But Philly people say water very strangly.


More like 'wooder'.

I heard somewhere (read, saw, don't remember) that how someone says "water" is one of the easiest ways to peg where they are from, accent wise. There are apparently a myriad of different pronunciations.

Of course it's wooder ice. What else would it be?

When I had been living in California about five years, TLAF and I took a trip to San Francisco. She was sitting in a cable car. I was standing in front of her. The gentleman next to her turned it his seatmate and said something about something to drink.

I tapped him on the shoulder and asked where in Philadelphia he was from. He was from the Northeast.

My mother asked me how I knew. I said it was how he pronounced "water." She was amazed that I could know that. But, I had been away from Philadelphia long enough that I could pick it up instantly.

[mellytu74]

BTW, we found out this past weekend that Eileen absolutely hates the Dexy's Midnight Runners' song about her namesake! Wonder why?? Probably the same reason I hate Run DMC's "Mary Mary."

Probably not the same reason I hate "Jean" from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I hate it because it sounds like a dirge.

I really like "Marie Elena," especially twangy guitar versions of it.

[VAdame]

Of course it's wooder ice. What else would it be?

Italian ice!

Probably not the same reason I hate "Jean" from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I hate it because it sounds like a dirge.

Not because some annoying Duh Mass (or is it pronounced du-MAHS?) insists on singing it at you every time you see each other? I finally had to politely ask my annoying Duh Mass (a co-worker) to please cut it out. To his credit, he actually stopped.

I don't think I knew your first name before this! And I love that song -- and the movie. But then, I also like "Come On, Eileen." Probably because it ain't my name!

[SportsFan68]

Of course it's wooder ice. What else would it be?

Italian ice!

Probably not the same reason I hate "Jean" from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. I hate it because it sounds like a dirge.

Not because some annoying Duh Mass (or is it pronounced du-MAHS?) insists on singing it at you every time you see each other? I finally had to politely ask my annoying Duh Mass (a co-worker) to please cut it out. To his credit, he actually stopped.

I don't think I knew your first name before this! And I love that song -- and the movie. But then, I also like "Come On, Eileen." Probably because it ain't my name!

No, just the dirge. Good job on getting the co-worker to quit it with yours.

I like Dexy's one-hit wonder too. You're right, though -- it's not my name.

[VAdame]

No, just the dirge. Good job on getting the co-worker to quit it with yours.

I like Dexy's one-hit wonder too. You're right, though -- it's not my name.

I'm not crazy about "The Wind Cries....Mary" either, but at least I never had it sung "at" me 20 bazillion times a day. "Proud Mary" on the other hand, I like!

At least I'm not Janie, so I don't have to hear about how I've got a gun -- a la "Not Another Teen Movie" which we just watched the other day

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

Then there is Louie, Louie

[silvercamaro]

Then there is Louie, Louie

It is and it always has been Judy's Turn to Cry.

I can deal with Cary Grant.

[VAdame]

No, just the dirge. Good job on getting the co-worker to quit it with yours.

Well, if you don't care for dirges, do you happen to Believe in Daydreams?

[christie1111]

Then there is always 'Oh Donna'

[Rexer25]

I'm still waiting for the first Rex song in English.

[nitrah55]

My dad grew up in Philly, and did a lot of that, although the members of his family who stayed in Philadelphia did it more.

And then there's the branch of the family in Baltimore- excuse me, I meant to say "Balmer."

[SportsFan68]

No, just the dirge. Good job on getting the co-worker to quit it with yours.

Well, if you don't care for dirges, do you happen to Believe in Daydreams?

That one's OK -- and nobody ever sang it to me!