Dialect Map

[Tallpine]

I thought that they were called "Mainiacs" 

[Hawkmoon]

I thought that they were called "Mainiacs" 

There's a distinction between "Mainiacs" and "Mainers." Haven't been there for many years and I don't remember the difference. Maybe I can dredge it up.

[Stand_watie]

'Mainer' or 'state o' mainer' is more formal. Would be used in a news article for example.

[BobR]

Well, growing up as an Army brat, then touring with the Navy for a few years has put my dialect all over the map. 

bob

[BlueStarLizzard]

In my screwy accent issues, the one I never picked up from the northern contingent was "pop". Grandma would tell Grandpa to make sure to pick up the "soda pop" when he went to the store.

I've always been "soda" for anything that fizzles and "coke" for Coke or Pepsi.

As for "ant"/"aunt", I remember as a young child getting corrected by my maternal aunt on correct pronunciation, because I really thought it was "ant" for awhile.

It goes either way. If I drawl it's "aunt", if I'm talking fast and redneck it's "ant".

[280plus]

Don't forget "Aint"as in "Aint Bee"

[Perd Hapley]

My wife has informed me that I pronounce "both" like "bolth." I wasn't aware of it until she said so. Like "ant," I will probably mispronounce that word as long as I live.

Pronouncing "ornery" as "onree" is pretty common here. Some Minnesotan friends were amused by it.

[Doggy Daddy]

Here is a bit of trivia....how can you tell if a person has lived for a good amount of time in Cincinnati, Ohio?  He/she will more than likely say please instead of excuse me or pardon me, quirky.

I get pegged as an ex-pat Buckeye by how I say "wash".  People claim that I actually pronounce it "warsh". 

My eyesight must be fading, as I never can see the line youse guys was standing ON while waiting to get something when there were other people ahead of you.  We, on the other hand, stood IN a line, and knew if you got out of the line you might not be able to get back in at the same place - even if the guy behind you promised to hold your space/spot.

Side note.  My Tom-Tom tells me to stay "on" my lane, instead of "in" my lane.

[Ben]

Everyone laughs at me when I say "bank". Apparently I emphasize the "ba" in a funny way. I'm thinking I pronounce it the same as other words ending in "ank", but apparently the only way it will come out the "right" way, is if internally, I'm hearing myself say "bonk".

[Tallpine]

I get pegged as an ex-pat Buckeye by how I say "wash".  People claim that I actually pronounce it "warsh". 

I thought that was a Texas thing. 

Apparently also most people don't say INsurance like I do - they say inSURance 

[lupinus]

When I first moved South from NJ/PA the one that got me most was buggy.

My wife, whose is from around here, still makes fun of the way I say certain things. Insurance and drawer is particular.

[Stand_watie]

I thought that was a Texas thing. 
...

I hear it from a native Texan (but not most native Texans) all the time at work, regularly hear it from Oklahoma truck drivers and heard it growing up from a N.C./Tennessee grandmother. Wiki claims it is appalachian origin.

[Tallpine]

I hear it from a native Texan (but not most native Texans) all the time at work, regularly hear it from Oklahoma truck drivers and heard it growing up from a N.C./Tennessee grandmother. Wiki claims it is appalachian origin.

That makes sense.  Mom is an Okie.

[Jamisjockey]

Was talking to one of the cub scout moms.  She's a doctor, and really well educated and read.  She was taking about a school administrator pronouncing mature "ma-toor".  I was cracking up cause it bugs me too....

[BlueStarLizzard]

Was talking to one of the cub scout moms.  She's a doctor, and really well educated and read.  She was taking about a school administrator pronouncing mature "ma-toor".  I was cracking up cause it bugs me too....

Nails on chalkboard.

[Jamisjockey]

Nails on chalkboard.

She's a little bitty thing, maybe 4'10",  Indian descent.  Super duper over achiever family, her and her husband were both high school graduates prior to age 16, and they both are doctors.  She's quite the fireball and she really doesn't like that particular school administrator.  The ma-toor thing was really getting her goat.