eastern pennsylvania accent?

Question

Im from the eastern part of PA and recently i went to las vegas and they said somethin about my accent. To all Americans what exactly does an Eastern Pennsylvania accent sound like to you? Im from an urban part not rural so the accents can be different but just give me your opinion on what a pennsylvanian accent sounds like because i dont really notice an accent considering im from here.

Answer 1

People from this region are known for "swallowing" their "Ls." To others, this is a very distinctive sound.



For example, to an outsider, when a person with the local accent says "Philadelphia," it sounds like "Phiwadewphia," not like a speech impediment, but just a quirk of pronunciation.



A speech therapist would tell you that it all has to do with where the tongue is placed when forming the "L."



There are, of course, regionalisms as well, but these are more like terms and not pronunciations. That "L" is the giveaway.



When I was a kid, we moved to PA from the NYC area, and everyone teased my about my NY accent. Now that I have lived in CA for many years, when I come home to PA for a visit, I hear the PA accent very strongly, you can be sure.

Answer 2

Pennsylvania Dialect

Answer 3

I live in central pa, and people say that i have a west virginian accent. Probly because my whole family lives there, but maybe you have like a new joysy accent, since new jersey is right next to eastern pa, or maybe it's something you picked up living around the amish. I know I did for a little, but I got out of it somehow.

Answer 4

Well I'm from eastern Pennsylvania. There isn't an eastern Pennsylvania, but several different ones.



I'm originally from Bloomsburg. I can definitely tell by their accent if someone is from my valley, Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Pottsville, Allentown, or Philadelphia. However as people move in from New York and New Jersey, it's getting more difficult. But don't ask me to describe, it's just something you know.

Answer 5

I've heard folks from Central PA say "Lankister" when they mean Lan-Caster. Or "Lebnon" instead of Leb-A-Non.

But then I get made fun of for saying these city names like the New Jerseyan that I am. ha ha.



I've also heard people in the Gettysburg area speak with a slight southern accent.



But for me, folks in Philly sound very much like New Yorkers or New Jerseyans and thats probably as eastern PA as you can get.

Answer 6

Originally from South Philly, and when my family and me moved our accent was compared to someone from Staten Island, NY. But it's different from different parts of PA.

Answer 7

I am not from Pennsylvania, but one thing that always strikes me with Maryland/Delaware/Philadelphia people is a VERY strong "O".. It's almost like OE... "How did you KNOOOOHHH?" or... "I'm going HOOOHME". A Friend of mine always joked that people in Philadelphia ate "Toested coeconut doenuts"...

Answer 8

as far as a philadelphian accent - our water is pronounced "wooder".



there are a few others i would get picked on for (i moved from philly to west of scranton a few years ago)



bike or bicycle "boik" or "boicycle"

the obvious "wooder"

saying "youse guys"



as far as having a NEPA accent, i've never heard of that as a generalization.