tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13959011.post4418423038479697854..comments2023-11-18T12:41:41.834-05:00Comments on Huang Kid Khronicles: Philly GirlLHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02127870226377459490noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13959011.post-89168764970373212852010-06-09T05:43:47.853-04:002010-06-09T05:43:47.853-04:00Joel, thanks for chiming in. Perhaps instead of &...Joel, thanks for chiming in. Perhaps instead of "quintessential," I meant "stereotypical." Not at all intending that you can't be from Philly if you don't say it that way.LHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02127870226377459490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13959011.post-6383943364844107002010-06-08T14:30:40.597-04:002010-06-08T14:30:40.597-04:00I am a Philly native, so I just can't resist c...I am a Philly native, so I just can't resist commenting here. I don't think it's as simple as "the quintessential pronunciation that marks a Philly person". I don't say "wooder" (you got it slightly wrong); am I not "a Philly person"?<br /><br />It would be interesting to actually find out what percentage of Philly residents use the "quintessential pronunciation": "payments" (sidewalks), "downashore" (over at the Jersey shore), "kwawfee" (coffee), etc. Of course, there are plenty of people who live in the "region" (think especially: Delco, South Jersey), but not the city proper, who have this style/accent.<br /><br />There is *some* class distinction at work here, and I have to confess to having a certain prejudice against the "white neighborhoods" of Philly, from my upbringing. It's telling that I can imitate a number of accents of English moderately well, but I have a very hard time speaking in such a way as to be identified as a Philadelphian. (I don't count my stubborn use of "where are you at?" which is worse to my wife Angela than nails on a chalkboard.)<br /><br />My parents are from western Massachusetts and "around the U.S.". The one from western MA actually cleansed himself of his regional accent, as a teenager, by using listening dialect training records (yes, on a record player). That also may be telling, and may be a clue to why I don't say "wooder". (To me, "wooder" is a made-up word meaning "more wood-like than".)<br /><br />I'm rambling. But you've touched a bit of a nerve. But not in a bad way. Necessarily.Joel GLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06244692753296680669noreply@blogger.com