Regional accents question- NY & Pennsylvania

Hi-

I've noticed that three different people I know- all from northern
Pennsylvania or southern New York- make the same "mispronunciation".
They all drop the g at the end of words ending in ing- somethin, nothin,
anythin, etc. They are well spoken, highly educated men who otherwise
speak with what is usually considered "proper English pronunciation".
(Let's NOT get in a discussion of "proper English".)

Is anyone here from that area or have any idea about whether their
pronunciation is just coincidence or a regional pronunciation?

Thanks-

Susan

On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 04:02:29 GMT, Susan Wachob
wrote:


Hi-

I've noticed that three different people I know- all from northern
Pennsylvania or southern New York- make the same "mispronunciation".
They all drop the g at the end of words ending in ing- somethin, nothin,
anythin, etc. They are well spoken, highly educated men who otherwise
speak with what is usually considered "proper English pronunciation".
(Let's NOT get in a discussion of "proper English".)

You started it.

Is anyone here from that area or have any idea about whether their
pronunciation is just coincidence or a regional pronunciation?

Try posting to alt.usage.english. You could get a very knowledgeable
answer about regional accents there. You could also get your head
handed to you for suggesting one accent is more "proper" than another.
Your move. :-)

Michael

If you would like to send a private email to me, please take out the TRASH, so to speak. Please do not email me something which you also posted.

On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 04:02:29 GMT, Susan Wachob wrote:


Hi-

I've noticed that three different people I know- all from northern
Pennsylvania or southern New York- make the same "mispronunciation".
They all drop the g at the end of words ending in ing- somethin, nothin,
anythin, etc. They are well spoken, highly educated men who otherwise
speak with what is usually considered "proper English pronunciation".
(Let's NOT get in a discussion of "proper English".)

Is anyone here from that area or have any idea about whether their
pronunciation is just coincidence or a regional pronunciation?

Thanks-

Susan

Of course there are regional "accents" or speech patterns.
It is a huge and interesting subject. And don't be too sure you,
yourself, don't exhibit one. It is easy to detect these in others,
but not in ourselves

People in Pittsburgh have an accent, and there have been a number of
"humorous" books written about it. I think someone may even have a webpage.
It is called Pittsburhezzz (sp). My father is from the area, but growing up
we never lived here, but when we came back on vacation I would notice it. I
have now lived here twenty years, and still notice the accent. Every so
often when I meet people from other places I ask them if I have an accent,
and they so no. So maybe I have not picked it up.

Tom

People in Pittsburgh have an accent, and there have been a number of
"humorous" books written about it. I think someone may even have a webpage.
It is called Pittsburhezzz (sp). My father is from the area, but growing up
we never lived here, but when we came back on vacation I would notice it. I
have now lived here twenty years, and still notice the accent. Every so
often when I meet people from other places I ask them if I have an accent,
and they so no. So maybe I have not picked it up.

Tom

On 30 Nov 2004 14:24:08 -0800, (Travel Buff)
wrote:

[snip]
Are you suprised that "well spoken, highly educated" people make a
pronunciation error?

Who says it's an "error," and who elected them King?

As I suggested to Susan, take a trip to alt.usage.english and prepare
for the accent experts there to hand your head to you for suggesting
that leaving off the "g" in words ending with "-ing" is a
"pronunciation error."

Michael

If you would like to send a private email to me, please take out the TRASH, so to speak. Please do not email me something which you also posted.

On 11/21/2004 11:02 PM Susan Wachob while holding "tha lizard", exclaimed:


Hi-

I've noticed that three different people I know- all from northern
Pennsylvania or southern New York- make the same "mispronunciation".
They all drop the g at the end of words ending in ing- somethin,
nothin, anythin, etc. They are well spoken, highly educated men who
otherwise speak with what is usually considered "proper English
pronunciation". (Let's NOT get in a discussion of "proper English".)

Is anyone here from that area or have any idea about whether their
pronunciation is just coincidence or a regional pronunciation?

Thanks-

Susan


Parts of North Jersey also drop the 'g'. I've also heard "pahkah-book"
for pocket-book. In neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, Pa folks say "Y'uns
goin' dahn-tan?" or "It's rainin' pots an pans?" it is what adds to
the flavor of our people, or peeps.

In 100 years from now will it **really** matter? English is a livin'
spoken language. It evolves. If it din't we still be speaking the
English of Geoffrey Chaucer. Hould Ye Thus it be verit?


--
________
To email me, Edit "xt" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera
"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

On 11/21/2004 11:02 PM Susan Wachob while holding "tha lizard", exclaimed:


Hi-

I've noticed that three different people I know- all from northern
Pennsylvania or southern New York- make the same "mispronunciation".
They all drop the g at the end of words ending in ing- somethin,
nothin, anythin, etc. They are well spoken, highly educated men who
otherwise speak with what is usually considered "proper English
pronunciation". (Let's NOT get in a discussion of "proper English".)

Is anyone here from that area or have any idea about whether their
pronunciation is just coincidence or a regional pronunciation?

Thanks-

Susan


Parts of North Jersey also drop the 'g'. I've also heard "pahkah-book"
for pocket-book. In neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, Pa folks say "Y'uns
goin' dahn-tan?" or "It's rainin' pots an pans?" it is what adds to
the flavor of our people, or peeps.

In 100 years from now will it **really** matter? English is a livin'
spoken language. It evolves. If it din't we still be speaking the
English of Geoffrey Chaucer. Hould Ye Thus it be verit?


--
________
To email me, Edit "xt" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera
"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

On 11/21/2004 11:02 PM Susan Wachob while holding "tha lizard", exclaimed:


Hi-

I've noticed that three different people I know- all from northern
Pennsylvania or southern New York- make the same "mispronunciation".
They all drop the g at the end of words ending in ing- somethin,
nothin, anythin, etc. They are well spoken, highly educated men who
otherwise speak with what is usually considered "proper English
pronunciation". (Let's NOT get in a discussion of "proper English".)

Is anyone here from that area or have any idea about whether their
pronunciation is just coincidence or a regional pronunciation?

Thanks-

Susan


Parts of North Jersey also drop the 'g'. I've also heard "pahkah-book"
for pocket-book. In neighborhoods of Pittsburgh, Pa folks say "Y'uns
goin' dahn-tan?" or "It's rainin' pots an pans?" it is what adds to
the flavor of our people, or peeps.

In 100 years from now will it **really** matter? English is a livin'
spoken language. It evolves. If it din't we still be speaking the
English of Geoffrey Chaucer. Hould Ye Thus it be verit?


--
________
To email me, Edit "xt" from my email address.
Brian M. Kochera
"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!"
View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951

Michael-

My point exactly. I don't think it's a pronunciation error. Hence my
question about it being a regional issue.

Susan


Pan wrote:

On 30 Nov 2004 14:24:08 -0800, (Travel Buff)
wrote:

[snip]

Are you suprised that "well spoken, highly educated" people make a
pronunciation error?


Who says it's an "error," and who elected them King?

As I suggested to Susan, take a trip to alt.usage.english and prepare
for the accent experts there to hand your head to you for suggesting
that leaving off the "g" in words ending with "-ing" is a
"pronunciation error."

Michael

If you would like to send a private email to me, please take out the TRASH, so to speak. Please do not email me something which you also posted.