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July 24, 2003
Language lessons
Some friends have made snarky comments about my discernible accent on my answering machine message. Some callers have merely not recognized the person as me. I recorded the message months ago, not realizing how much I sounded like a country music singer with perky breasts and a smoking habit or Yosemite Sam without the hair.
I prefer to think of it not as a suddenly revealed flaw, but as a linguistic relaxation. I’m from the Southwest, but I have always preferred that people look at me as a person rather than a dialectically challenged redneck from a region famous for its death penalty, idiot presidents, and hats. My accent has been cultivated over the years to eliminate all but the most fun hints of naissance. People sound like their families and environments. My Texas nieces sound solidly Texan, but with a somewhat neutral accent due to my sister’s radio voice. My British niece sounds solidly British, but with an occasional American turn of phrase. Give my sisters or me alcohol, and our accents roam randomly from country to country. My Russian accent is fairly neutral, but my Uzbek/Turkish accent makes me sound like I just escaped from the Bush compound in Crowley.
If I occasionally let slip with a ‘baa’ instead of a ‘bye,’ it is because I’m at a point in life where I can accept where I am from, where I am, and where I’m going. Where am I going? I’m fixin’ to go yonder.
Posted by G at July 24, 2003 11:01 AM
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Comments
Oh Heyls Beyls, Glin. As Joan Cusack said to Melanie Griffin in WORKING GIRL: "Whadduyuh need speech class fohr? YA TAWK FINE!"
Now go fix me up some a'that chicken fried steak, son!
PS: Keep the message.
Posted by: Danny L. at July 24, 2003 01:11 PM
Whaddaya tawkin about? Fuhgeddaboudit!
Posted by: kayo at July 24, 2003 01:58 PM
Quit makin' excuses, cracker.
Posted by: Sparky at July 24, 2003 03:18 PM
you forgot to say:
YAWL CUM BAK NOW, YA HERA!
Posted by: JP at July 24, 2003 05:43 PM
"Baa"? I never knew you spoke Sheep.
Californians don't have accents. Like, nuh-uh, Rilly! Omigawd!
Posted by: Casey at July 24, 2003 06:47 PM
Please don't dull down your accent, nor change your answering machine message. I did that when I moved here in 1992 and, in doing so, lost a little bit of myself. (A little silky twang still comes out when I have more than 8 ounces of wine.) What did I have to be ashamed of?
I like ya just like ya are. Don't let the naysayers neutralize you. It's not like you're from Buffalo or something. ;-)
Posted by: Jen at July 24, 2003 11:09 PM
Hang out with me some more and maybe some Bama will rub off. I'm all for maintaining the original. And I say baa too.
C
Posted by: chris at July 25, 2003 12:06 AM
Well, having never heard you and yer speaking voice either in person or via yer answering machine or even by AudioBlog (or whatever it's called) I have the power to make you sound like whomever I wanna! :-)
I moved out here to the left coast and now use "Dude!" as part of my vocabulary! What's a former NYC'er to do?
BTW - Casey got to use the sheep reference first, drats!
Posted by: Lee at July 25, 2003 04:43 AM
Dude! I so use DUDE all the time, dude! Yet another of my dialectic meanderings. No plans on taking that out of the lexicon either.
Posted by: Glenno at July 25, 2003 10:17 AM
yes, but are you still afraid of bunny rabbits? hey, how are you? still love your writing, when are you going to publish a book? love ya, linda
Posted by: Linda Gregston at August 7, 2003 11:50 AM