Why can't non-Texans pronounce words? I have lived in Texas most of my life and, like most Texans, I was raised pronouncing words differently than most other Americans. And as many of...

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

I have lived in Texas most of my life and, like most Texans, I was raised pronouncing words differently than most other Americans. And as many of us will come to note as we gather around the table from different areas of the land this holiday season, the rest of our country speaks a different brand of English than Texans. Having visited or met people from all areas of America, I have to realize that Texans are the only people on earth who do not speak with an accent.

This would not be a problem if I only had to speak with my fellow Texans, but with the pronunciation deficiency plaguing our country, non-Texans actually think I'm speaking improperly. To top it off, my wife is a Yankee and I have to communicate with her...at least every once in a while.

My sainted wife and I have had long discussions about how to pronounce the words 'pin' & 'pen.' It turns out that people in her quadrant of the universe pronounce those two words differently. When she says those two words, I can hear a slight difference but, try as I might, when I say them they both always come out sounding like 'pen.'

This would not bother me as much if she hadn't lived part of her life in New Mexico. This means that not only does she pronounce 'proper' English differently than I do, she is also more fluent in Spanish. I have tried many, many times, but still can't roll my 'Rs' with a rolling pin!

At least I pronounce words better than my father did. He normally just dropped the 'g' off the end of words like 'thinkin' and 'sippin.' But, he also used words I never heard anywhere else. He used the word 'kinely.' No, this was not an adjective referring to, say, a kind person. It instead meant 'kind of.'

He used the word 'extree,' which didn't refer to a dead tree but meant 'extra.'

He also used the word 'betwix,' which meant 'between.' So, he would say, "Folks might be thinkin' that mustang wine was kinely like drinkin' grape juice, but after sippin' it a while, they'd feel it hit them extree hard, right betwix the eyes."

Fortunately, my vocabulary is not that extreme, but I still have to make a conscious effort to pronounce the word 'idea.' If I don't, it always come out 'ideer.' If you ever hear me say 'ideer,' I apologize. Please know that I am not talking about a new electronic deer mannequin for h****rs marketed by the Apple Corporation.

I know all you grammar N**is out there are cringing right now and are ready to send in a SWAT team to neutralize the problem. However, I have at times experienced a little of the agony you are going through. I remember the time a school administrator once announced to a group of teachers that they had to turn in a copy of all their 'sillibuses' by Friday. Yes, I feel your pain...at least a little bit.

True, we Texans must endure our fellow Americans living under the delusion that they speak proper English and are duty-bound to correct our speech. And although my wife has at times corrected my pronunciations of certain words. I believe I have gotten the last laugh. You see, when she moved to Texas to attend college, she swore she would never say 'y'all,' a vital part of the language for some of us. But, after just one semester of intense vocabulary therapy while at Baylor University, she began learnin' how to talk proper Texan...and 'y'all' know what that means. :mrgreen:

By John Kemp, local to the Waco, Tx. area.

Coos Bay Tom Loc: coos bay oregon

slatten49 wrote:

I have lived in Texas most of my life and, like most Texans, I was raised pronouncing words differently than most other Americans. And as many of us will come to note as we gather around the table from different areas of the land this holiday season, the rest of our country speaks a different brand of English than Texans. Having visited or met people from all areas of America, I have to realize that Texans are the only people on earth who do not speak with an accent.

This would not be a problem if I only had to speak with my fellow Texans, but with the pronunciation deficiency plaguing our country, non-Texans actually think I'm speaking improperly. To top it off, my wife is a Yankee and I have to communicate with her...at least every once in a while.

My sainted wife and I have had long discussions about how to pronounce the words 'pin' & 'pen.' It turns out that people in her quadrant of the universe pronounce those two words differently. When she says those two words, I can hear a slight difference but, try as I might, when I say them they both always come out sounding like 'pen.'

This would not bother me as much if she hadn't lived part of her life in New Mexico. This means that not only does she pronounce 'proper' English differently than I do, she is also more fluent in Spanish. I have tried many, many times, but still can't roll my 'Rs' with a rolling pin!

At least I pronounce words better than my father did. He normally just dropped the 'g' off the end of words like 'thinkin' and 'sippin.' But, he also used words I never heard anywhere else. He used the word 'kinely.' No, this was not an adjective referring to, say, a kind person. It instead meant 'kind of.'

He used the word 'extree,' which didn't refer to a dead tree but meant 'extra.'

He also used the word 'betwix,' which meant 'between.' So, he would say, "Folks might be think' that mustang wine was kinely like drinkin' grape juice, but after sippin' it a while, they'd feel it hit them extree hard, right betwix the eyes."

Fortunately, my vocabulary is not that extreme, but I still have to make a conscious effort to pronounce the word 'idea.' If I don't, it always come out 'ideer.' If you ever hear me say 'ideer,' I apologize. Please know that I am not talking about a new electronic deer mannequin for h****rs marketed by the Apple Corporation.

I know all you grammar N**is out there are cringing right now and are ready to send in a SWAT team to neutralize the problem. However, I have at times experienced a little of the agony you are going through. I remember the time a school administrator once announced to a group of teachers that they had to turn in a copy of all their 'sillibuses' by Friday. Yes, I feel
your pain...at least a little bit.

True, we Texans must endure our fellow Americans living under the delusion that they speak proper English and are duty-bound to correct our speech. And although my wife has at times corrected my pronunciations of certain words. I believe I have gotten the last laugh. You see, when she moved to Texas to attend college, she swore she would never say 'y'all,' a vital part of the language for some of us. But, after just one semester of intense vocabulary therapy while at Baylor University, she began learnin' how to talk proper Texan...and 'y'all' know what that means. :mrgreen:

By John Kemp, local to the Waco, Tx. area.

I have lived in Texas most of my life and, like mo... (show quote)

I always wondered why Texans cannot say Twelve with the L It always comes out Tweve

:lol: :lol: :lol:

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Coos Bay Tom wrote:

I always wondered why Texans cannot say Twelve with the L It always comes out Tweve

:lol: :lol: :lol:

It's not 'tweve' :?: :shock:

PoppaGringo Loc: Muslim City, Mexifornia, B.R.

Analogously, FDR once wondered what it would be like to have two senators, one from Virginia and one from Maine trying to converse.

Coos Bay Tom Loc: coos bay oregon

slatten49 wrote:

It's not 'tweve' :?: :shock:

Twe've? Anyway us Oregonites have funny accents too.

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Coos Bay Tom wrote:

Twe've?

I can go with that. :wink: Twe've, it is :!: :thumbup:

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

PoppaGringo wrote:

Analogously, FDR once wondered what it would be like to have two senators, one from Virginia and one from Maine trying to converse.

I'm not sure, but they likely served Mint Juleps with their lobster at lunch :!:

SamDawkins

slatten49 wrote:

I have lived in Texas most of my life and, like most Texans, I was raised pronouncing words differently than most other Americans. And as many of us will come to note as we gather around the table from different areas of the land this holiday season, the rest of our country speaks a different brand of English than Texans. Having visited or met people from all areas of America, I have to realize that Texans are the only people on earth who do not speak with an accent.

This would not be a problem if I only had to speak with my fellow Texans, but with the pronunciation deficiency plaguing our country, non-Texans actually think I'm speaking improperly. To top it off, my wife is a Yankee and I have to communicate with her...at least every once in a while.

My sainted wife and I have had long discussions about how to pronounce the words 'pin' & 'pen.' It turns out that people in her quadrant of the universe pronounce those two words differently. When she says those two words, I can hear a slight difference but, try as I might, when I say them they both always come out sounding like 'pen.'

This would not bother me as much if she hadn't lived part of her life in New Mexico. This means that not only does she pronounce 'proper' English differently than I do, she is also more fluent in Spanish. I have tried many, many times, but still can't roll my 'Rs' with a rolling pin!

At least I pronounce words better than my father did. He normally just dropped the 'g' off the end of words like 'thinkin' and 'sippin.' But, he also used words I never heard anywhere else. He used the word 'kinely.' No, this was not an adjective referring to, say, a kind person. It instead meant 'kind of.'

He used the word 'extree,' which didn't refer to a dead tree but meant 'extra.'

He also used the word 'betwix,' which meant 'between.' So, he would say, "Folks might be thinkin' that mustang wine was kinely like drinkin' grape juice, but after sippin' it a while, they'd feel it hit them extree hard, right betwix the eyes."

Fortunately, my vocabulary is not that extreme, but I still have to make a conscious effort to pronounce the word 'idea.' If I don't, it always come out 'ideer.' If you ever hear me say 'ideer,' I apologize. Please know that I am not talking about a new electronic deer mannequin for h****rs marketed by the Apple Corporation.

I know all you grammar N**is out there are cringing right now and are ready to send in a SWAT team to neutralize the problem. However, I have at times experienced a little of the agony you are going through. I remember the time a school administrator once announced to a group of teachers that they had to turn in a copy of all their 'sillibuses' by Friday. Yes, I feel your pain...at least a little bit.

True, we Texans must endure our fellow Americans living under the delusion that they speak proper English and are duty-bound to correct our speech. And although my wife has at times corrected my pronunciations of certain words. I believe I have gotten the last laugh. You see, when she moved to Texas to attend college, she swore she would never say 'y'all,' a vital part of the language for some of us. But, after just one semester of intense vocabulary therapy while at Baylor University, she began learnin' how to talk proper Texan...and 'y'all' know what that means. :mrgreen:

By John Kemp, local to the Waco, Tx. area.

I have lived in Texas most of my life and, like mo... (show quote)

Now that was "extree" hilarious!! :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

What a conundrum to be faced with, slatt..

I am sure you handled it without getten anybody all worked up!!!

I mean, ain't your first rodeo, right?????????? :thumbup: :thumbup:

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

lindajoy wrote:

What a conundrum to be faced with, slatt..

I am sure you handled it without getten anybody all worked up!!!

I mean, ain't your first rodeo, right?????????? :thumbup: :thumbup:

Yep, to your first. :thumbup: Darn tootin' it ain't, to your second L-J :!: :wink:

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

slatten49 wrote:

Yep, to your first. :thumbup: Darn tootin' it ain't, to your second L-J :!: :wink:

:thumbup: :thumbup: I must have lived in Texas at some time..I have said the very same things.....lolololol :thumbup: :wink:

Coos Bay Tom Loc: coos bay oregon

slatten49 wrote:

I can go with that. :wink: Twe've, it is :!: :thumbup:

God Bless Texas!!

:thumbup: :thumbup: http://youtu.be/mbH60wCO-Yw

Alicia Loc: NYC

Coos Bay Tom wrote:

I always wondered why Texans cannot say Twelve with the L It always comes out Tweve

:lol: :lol: :lol:

***********
You can add the word "help" which is pronounced "hep."

I have two stories to add. Once, while in NM, I got on an elevator with a tall, shin man who spoke to me nonstop. I didn't understand one word. Went home and reported the incident. The answer was, "He was from Texas."

Another instance: Belonged to a Texas city counsel. Went to the opening of the new training building for police. Spoke with one of the elite officers. Couldn't even pick out the word "the" throughout the entire conversation.

And another: Worked at a retirement home at the telephones. Got a call for a "Gerln." Explained there was no one by that name. Call back used the same pronunciation. Third time - I asked him to spell the name. He spelled G-e-r-i-l-y-n. Not in a million years could I have made that association.

I also have a problem with the pronunciation of pen and pin. When asked for a "pin" I offered a needle and thread.

I'm also upset with the word "nucular". It's lazy speech.
Question: Does anyone know where the term "fixin to" originated?

slatten49 Loc: Lake Whitney, Texas

Alicia wrote:

***********
You can add the word "help" which is pronounced "hep."

:lol: :thumbup: True 'nuf :!:

Coos Bay Tom Loc: coos bay oregon

Alicia wrote:

*********** br You can add the word "help&quo... (show quote)

I think fixen to came from the Beverly Hillbillys-- Jed used it a lot