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| The Disappearing Chicago Accent https://mail.chicagofanatics.com/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=102369 |
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| Author: | Don Tiny [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 11:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/local-accent-dialect-daley-superfans-wendt-mancow/BestOf?oid=22604803 In the parking lot of a grocery store in Beverly, I heard the most Chicago sentence ever spoken. "Yeah," said a middle-aged man who could only have spent his entire life in the city's most Irish neighborhood, "dey're buildin' a new Cat'lick church out dere in Orland Park." In its most undiluted expression, the Chicago accent—dialect of Daleys, the sound of CTA announcements ("Customer assistance is needed at the key-ask")—is layered with local history: settlement, immigration, segregation, industrialization, globalization. Our city's basic speech patterns were brought here in the 1830s by Yankee pioneers from western New England and upstate New York. Stephen Douglas, the first great Chicagoan, was born in Vermont and died on a lakefront estate. The Yankees settled the lower Great Lakes, establishing a dialect region known as Inland North, stretching from Rochester to Milwaukee. From them, we got our nasal timbre and the pronunciations that evolved into the Northern Cities Vowel Shift, a 20th-century linguistic movement that has resulted in such distinctive midwestern pronunciations as "jayg-off" for "jagoff" and "Gapers blahhhk is slowing down tray-fic on da Day-en Ryan." Then came the immigrants, who adopted Inland North and added elements from their native tongues. Few languages other than English include the "th" sound. That's how "Throop" became "T'roop," and why "dese, dem, and dose guy" is a term for a salt-of-the-earth white ethnic Chicagoan, usually from the south side or an inner-ring suburb. The Irish "youse," a kludge for English's lack of a second-person plural, can still be heard in Bridgeport and Beverly. Next came the Great Migration. Isolated geographically by restrictive covenants, socially by taboos against intermarriage, and economically by relegation to the dirtiest, lowest-paying jobs, African-Americans had little contact with white Chicago and retained their southern speech. They still say "y'all" on the south and west sides. The midwest, which has the nation's most segregated cities, also has the widest divergence between black and white accents. The Chicago accent was most widespread during the city's industrial heyday. Blue-collar work and strong regional speech are closely connected: if you graduated high school in the 1960s, you didn't need to go to college or even leave your neighborhood to get a good job, and once you got that job, you didn't have to talk to anyone outside your house, your factory, or your tavern. A regular-Joe accent was a sign of masculinity and local cred, bonding forces important for the teamwork of industrial labor. A 1970s study of East Side steelworker families found that housewives were less likely than their husbands to say "dese, dem, and dose" because they dealt with doctors, teachers, and other professionals. After the mills closed, kids went to college, where they learned not to say "dat," and took office jobs requiring interaction with people outside the neighborhood. Chicagoese began going out of style right at the moment the rest of the country noticed it—maybe because the rest of the country noticed it. Saturday Night Live's "Bill Swerski's Superfans," starring Clearing's own George Wendt, lampooned Polish and Irish Chicagoans who gorged on "Polish sahhhsage" and rooted for "Da Bearsss." "It's become so stereotyped as a pronunciation, and it's pointed out so often in speech that people are actually shifting away from it," says David Durian, an adjunct professor of English at the College of DuPage, who has observed an erosion of the accent among post-baby-boom Chicagoans. It's now rare to hear a classic Chicago accent from anyone under 50. Even if your grandfather and father had one, you probably don't. When I was a regular at Sportsman's Park in Cicero, my racetrack buddy Johnny used to congratulate me on winning bets by shouting "Dayt's awesome!" Mancow Muller's radio stooge Turd (who's also a south-side bartender) spoke perfect Chicagoese, but he's off the air. Richard M. Daley is out of office after 22 years as mayor of "Chi-caw-go," replaced by a smooth-talking wonk from Wilmette who runs "Chi-cah-go." As Chicago has reinvented itself as a consulting and cultural capital, attracting college graduates who speak neutral American English, Chicagoese is regarded as an ethnic, blue-collar accent. It always was. WASP Hugh Hefner and Yalie Gene Siskel never talked about dat great new restaurant over dere in West Lawn. It's disappearing because Chicago isn't as ethnic or blue-collar as it used to be. McClelland's book on midwestern speech will be out in November from Belt Publishing. |
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| Author: | IMU [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 11:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
When I play games with random folks on the internet, I get the occasional "you're from Chicago, right? You have the accent." even though I don't believe I have one...especially when hearing actual Chicago accents. But apparently it exists in some small fashion still. |
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| Author: | Don Tiny [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:00 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
IMU wrote: When I play games with random folks on the internet, I get the occasional "you're from Chicago, right? You have the accent." even though I don't believe I have one...especially when hearing actual Chicago accents. But apparently it exists in some small fashion still. Dat's egzactly right! |
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| Author: | Hockey Gay [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
IMU wrote: When I play games with random folks on the internet, I get the occasional "you're from Chicago, right? You have the accent." even though I don't believe I have one...especially when hearing actual Chicago accents. But apparently it exists in some small fashion still. Same. I don't notice it but everyone I play games online with says it's there. |
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| Author: | good dolphin [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
I remember the people on my rugby team in college making fun of me for a Chicago accent. Meanwhile, these were new York/New Jersey Ities with their own stereotypical accent. The New Jersey/Philadelphia types sounded like full on southerners I don't think I have a traditional Chicago accent but I occasionally catch some of the northside polish type of phrases I heard my grandparents say that I never thought would be passed down. |
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| Author: | chaspoppcap [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
I get either New York or Chicago |
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| Author: | America [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
When I was living in Oregon, a place with no accent, they were insistent that I had a Chicago accent. I dont think I have one. |
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| Author: | FavreFan [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
Got the same thing in the Army. I, too, was surprised people could guess I was from Chicago. |
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| Author: | Jbi11s [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
It's become more of a Midwestern accent, northern Illinoisans have a more distinct tone. When I lived in FL I was told the same thing. We basically pronounce our 'A' like an 'O' and 'O' like and 'A'. |
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| Author: | leashyourkids [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
You all have one. Having grown up outside the Chicago-metro area, I certainly notice it, even though I've become accustomed to it. For most, it is very slight. I often get told I have a "Southern accent" by people who have Chicago accents. |
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| Author: | Hank Scorpio [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
Whenever I'm in California people are quick to point out that I must be from Chicago. I do notice I do little bit of the da, dese, dere thing if I'm talking fast and not paying attention. |
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| Author: | Jbi11s [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
leashyourkids wrote: You all have one. Having grown up outside the Chicago-metro area, I certainly notice it, even though I've become accustomed to it. For most, it is very slight. I often get told I have a "Southern accent" by people who have Chicago accents. South of I-80 = Southern Accent? I didn't know that. |
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| Author: | leashyourkids [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
Jbi11s wrote: leashyourkids wrote: You all have one. Having grown up outside the Chicago-metro area, I certainly notice it, even though I've become accustomed to it. For most, it is very slight. I often get told I have a "Southern accent" by people who have Chicago accents. South of I-80 = Southern Accent? I didn't know that. I don't actually have a Southern accent... I think Chicagoans just perceive it that way. |
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| Author: | Douchebag [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
Jbi11s wrote: leashyourkids wrote: You all have one. Having grown up outside the Chicago-metro area, I certainly notice it, even though I've become accustomed to it. For most, it is very slight. I often get told I have a "Southern accent" by people who have Chicago accents. South of I-80 = Southern Accent? I didn't know that. I think they still do lynchings down in Bourbonnais. |
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| Author: | beni hanna [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
After living here 4 months I was told by old friends that I picked up an accent. Screw em all. Let it roll freely from your tongue. LOUD AND PROUD |
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| Author: | Brick [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
People picked up my Chicago accent in West Lafayette. They said there were certain words that I said that give it away even if most of the stuff is fairly normal. They also assumed I lived in an area that had drive by's every night. |
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| Author: | Don Tiny [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
Douchebag wrote: Jbi11s wrote: leashyourkids wrote: You all have one. Having grown up outside the Chicago-metro area, I certainly notice it, even though I've become accustomed to it. For most, it is very slight. I often get told I have a "Southern accent" by people who have Chicago accents. South of I-80 = Southern Accent? I didn't know that. I think they still do lynchings down in Bourbonnais. Board outing? |
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| Author: | Don Tiny [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
http://www.wikihow.com/Fake-a-Chicago-Accent It's not too bad.  This one takes a more 'serious' look at it, better to read there than recreate here: https://www.wbez.org/shows/curious-city/chuh-kaw-go-what-do-you-really-sound-like/9054d7a4-f876-4c53-8ce1-08adae048d28 |
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| Author: | sjboyd0137 [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:20 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
Boilermaker Rick wrote: People picked up my Chicago accent in West Lafayette. They said there were certain words that I said that give it away even if most of the stuff is fairly normal. They also assumed I lived in an area that had drive by's every night. Did you assume they came from areas with daily cross burnings? |
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| Author: | Brick [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
sjboyd0137 wrote: Boilermaker Rick wrote: People picked up my Chicago accent in West Lafayette. They said there were certain words that I said that give it away even if most of the stuff is fairly normal. They also assumed I lived in an area that had drive by's every night. Did you assume they came from areas with daily cross burnings? |
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| Author: | FavreFan [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
leashyourkids wrote: Jbi11s wrote: leashyourkids wrote: You all have one. Having grown up outside the Chicago-metro area, I certainly notice it, even though I've become accustomed to it. For most, it is very slight. I often get told I have a "Southern accent" by people who have Chicago accents. South of I-80 = Southern Accent? I didn't know that. I don't actually have a Southern accent... I think Chicagoans just perceive it that way. Leash is wrong. He definitely sounds like a hillbilly. |
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| Author: | Don Tiny [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
FavreFan wrote: leashyourkids wrote: Jbi11s wrote: leashyourkids wrote: You all have one. Having grown up outside the Chicago-metro area, I certainly notice it, even though I've become accustomed to it. For most, it is very slight. I often get told I have a "Southern accent" by people who have Chicago accents. South of I-80 = Southern Accent? I didn't know that. I don't actually have a Southern accent... I think Chicagoans just perceive it that way. Leash is wrong. He definitely sounds like a hillbilly. It's amazing to me that he isn't always clad in untied brown hunting boots and denim bib overalls ... like if Uncle Fester and Hillbilly Jim had a kid. |
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| Author: | sjboyd0137 [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
Don Tiny wrote: FavreFan wrote: leashyourkids wrote: Jbi11s wrote: leashyourkids wrote: You all have one. Having grown up outside the Chicago-metro area, I certainly notice it, even though I've become accustomed to it. For most, it is very slight. I often get told I have a "Southern accent" by people who have Chicago accents. South of I-80 = Southern Accent? I didn't know that. I don't actually have a Southern accent... I think Chicagoans just perceive it that way. Leash is wrong. He definitely sounds like a hillbilly. It's amazing to me that he isn't always clad in untied brown hunting boots and denim bib overalls ... like if Uncle Fester and Hillbilly Jim had a kid.
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| Author: | leashyourkids [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
| Fuck both of you.
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| Author: | Kirkwood [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 12:59 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
leash is definitely a hilljack yokel. lets his dog sleep with him in his straw bed, goes fishing, goober accent, etc. it's all there. |
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| Author: | pittmike [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 1:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
The accent is one of this first things that comes up when I meet people here. |
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| Author: | Hank Scorpio [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 1:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
pittmike wrote: The accent is one of this first things that comes up when I meet people here. The Burgh accent is a thing... Grab an Arn City and red up your room. |
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| Author: | formerlyknownas [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 1:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
I did a lot of linguistics in grad school, and this guy is right on the money. What he is saying was predicted about thirty years ago. I look forward to this book. My kids make fun of the way I speak. Totally different dialect. The classic Southern accent is dying out, but for different reasons. |
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| Author: | formerlyknownas [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 1:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
leashyourkids wrote: :lol: Fuck both of you. no-- fuck da two a yas |
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| Author: | pittmike [ Thu Sep 22, 2016 1:05 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: The Disappearing Chicago Accent |
Hank Scorpio wrote: pittmike wrote: The accent is one of this first things that comes up when I meet people here. The Burgh accent is a thing... Grab an Arn City and red up your room. Absolutely. |
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