A reader commented that if I was ever in New Jersey, I had a place to stay. That made me think about a funny story.
Years and years ago, I met a friend at the Gettysburg quilt show. We spent several days together. I had met her before because she came to my house in Kentucky once for us to go to the Paducah quilt show and then she came again when we went to Martha Pullen’s Quilt Expo in Alabama.
While in Gettysburg, one of my friend’s friends came and met us. She was from Maine or one of those states with a distinct accent. I really had a had time understanding her and was kind of embarrassed that it was almost like we were speaking two different languages. We were in a restaurant eating soup and salad and I can’t remember if the friend of the friend dropped her fork but when the server, who was a young man, came by, she said “Excuse me. Could I have a fork?”
Oh, my goodness . . it did NOT sound like “fork”. You don’t even want to know what it sounded to me like she was asking for . . but you can probably imagine. Immediately I realized she was asking for a FORK and I had to try so hard to keep a straight face. I didn’t want her to think I was laughing at her accent, because I wasn’t – I was laughing at myself and what I thought she said. I’m sure she thought my accent was really different too.
Another thing she said . . we were talking about floors and I thought she was saying she didn’t like having “dot” floors. I said “I don’t remember ever having seen a dotted floor.” My friend said “DARK . . not dot!” Sounded like dot to me!
So, reading the comment about me visiting New Jersey, the two of us would probably need interpreters or translators!
Linda in NE says
My dad’s cousin spent his entire life in New Jersey until he retired & moved to Florida. He calls me once in a while and the minute I hear him say something I know who it is. That “Joisey” accent is very distinctive.
Mary says
When I was a young girl we were at Myrtle Beach, SC. I am from the piedmont of NC. Another little girl about my age came up to play which we did for a while. When she got ready to leave she said “ come with me so my parents can hear you talk”. She was from New Jersey! Guess I talk funny!
Liz says
My Mom was born in Latvia, so yes, she had an heavy accent. BTW, I could not hear it since she always sounded like Mom and this lack of hearing an accent is very common with children of recent immigrants.
Many years ago, I took Mom to see a medical specialist, who was originally from Greece and so had a heavy Greek accent. We all spoke English, but I had to be the translator between the doctor and my Mom. It was funny at the time but we worked it out.
I have seen some recent web articles that if you ask someone to repeat what they said because of an accent, then you are a racist! I think that is so funny since there are many accents within America. I grew up in Michigan and yet, there are some people in Oklahoma that ask where I am from. Also, when I go back up to Michigan, I get asked where I am from.
My Mom used to be asked where she was from and she would sometimes say “Detroit”. That sure got some strange looks!
Sue Edberg says
I was born and raised in Rhode Island. Rhode Islanders have a distinct accent totally different from people from Boston and NYC. When I went to college in Boston, I was constantly asked if I was from New York. When I visited New York, I was asked if I was from Boston. I have lived in Phoenix, Arizona for almost 50 years and I am still asked if I am from either Boston or New York. Put me in the same room as someone from either of those two areas and I don’t sound like either of them! However, several times since living in Phoenix, I have been asked if I’m from Rhode Island. This always shocks me and impresses me.
Judy Laquidara says
That lady may have been from Rhode Island now that you mention that state!
Jean says
This is too funny. Years ago I worked at a bank in northern Illinois. One of the other employees was originally from Massachusetts, and she was not allowed to say “fork” in the lobby.
carolyn says
The distinct NJ accent is from North Jersey. In South Jersey we don’t have a strong accent…we sound more like the national newscasters with a few word exceptions. Like “wooder” for water, or “crown” for crayon. When I was a child we would visit my grandmother who lived in Racine, WI. Wow, did she have an accent!
Judy Laquidara says
I never knew there was a difference in northern and southern NJ accents.
Dorothy Matheson says
My parents are from Michigan and when I went to visit my Grandma there at 15 my goodness after being raised all my life in Texas did I get comments on my accent. However it was the yes mam and yes sir that they did not care for.