Friday, December 27, 2013

Dialects

This questionnaire from the NYT is fun. I have what I'm told is a strong southern Ontario accent, and I've picked up some things from living in the U.S. midwest. The questionnaire tells me that I have nothing in common, in terms of dialect, with most of those east of the Mississipi and south of Ohio, most of the eastern seaboard, and Texas. I have most in common with people in Minneapolis/St. Paul and Buffalo NY. Everyone knows that Minnesotans sound a lot like Canadians (and behave the same too), and I grew up 90 miles from Buffalo, as the crow flies. That's pretty accurate. If they had questions about out and about, they would have done even better.

7 comments:

  1. Steve, do you still put "eh" at the end of sentences? Just joking! By the way, will you be in Philly for the AEA meetings?

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    Replies
    1. I did use "eh" a lot at one time. Before da hockey game, we went for a few beers, eh. Were drivin through town, and nearly run into a moose, eh. But I stopped doing it to avoid being teased, eh.

      No, this year I'm not going to the meetings.

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  2. Aha. I knew it: you and Krugman do share a brain. Which one of you posted first?

    http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/27/a-new-york-minute/

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    Replies
    1. It's a love-hate relationship.

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    2. He posted first. That's how I learned about it. I love Paul like a brother.

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  3. Did a very bad job for me

    ReplyDelete