Accents are a peculiar thing I think. We categorize different regions by the way people talk: you have the New Yorkers and their tough guy persona, the Southerners and all of them down yonder, and even the typical Boston folks and their paawked caawr.
Minnesota: I was not prepared for what I was about to encounter. We got to the hotel around 11:00 PM and for some reason, I was determined to go in the hot tub if they had one. I guess the long car ride had finally taken a toll on me and I was sure that a hot tub would cure my sore knees and cramped body. I was exploring the area, to get a sense of the pool but also to look for a gym for Al, when I heard it. I was about to go back up the stairs to get to the room and change into my bathing suit when I heard the women at the front desk. I felt like I was in a movie, like “Drop Dead Gorgeous”, where the characters spoke in that stereotypical Minnesotan voice.
“Did you see the Mary Kay women that checked in? They were mean as ever, dooohn’t you knooohw?”
“Oh yaah. I heard them all talking. Mean as ever. Doooohn’t you knoohw?”
I believe it was the movie “New in Town” with Renee Zellwegger where the town she moves in to in Minnesota, the local women always gossip. As I was walking back to my room I was reminded of both movies. The gossip amongst the people in a town, mostly of the local women, which is a big part in any small town anywhere in America I think. But also the line from “Drop Dead Gorgeous”…“I’m Amber Atkins from Mount Rooohse, Minnesooohta.”
I think I was intrigued by their accent because I don’t have one at all. I grew up an Armybrat and lived in a lot of different places so an accent never stuck with me. Or rather various parts stuck with me, but not a specific one that any person can place. I think accents definitely define a group of people. It’s what helps make them who they are. I spent the last six years, before West Point, growing up in Germany. Visiting different countries, even all of the English-speaking countries, I was fascinated by the different accents. You know where a person is from based on the way they present themselves: from their accents to their hand gestures. Accents may be stereotypical every now and then but I think people just don’t embrace them as much as they should. Your accent is a part of where you came from; it helps remind you where your roots are from.
Here's a clip from "Drop Dead Gorgeous" in case anyone needs a refresher!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKLSfnb-FMk
-Cait A. Gamble
No comments:
Post a Comment