Midwesterners' Guide -- The Jersey Accent

That Accent

It's true -- a lot of people here drink caughfee, and some drive cahs. I've even heard youse on a couple of occasions. I was a little disappointed, though, to find that most people speak like Midwesterners, more or less. (I'm talking about the Tom Brokaw set of Midwesterners, not the Ole 'n Lena set.)

(I've never heard a resident of this state say, "Joisey," incidentally -- though I've heard plenty of people elsewhere say it. I guess it's one of those deals like "Casablanca," where Bogart never says the famous, "Play it again, Sam.")
Of course, because there are many, many ethnic communities here, you'll hear all sorts of other accents. The same is true in the Midwest, of course, but I notice it more here.

Here's an interesting bit of regional trivia for you: In the Midwest, if you're standing single-file with other people, you're waiting in line. Out here -- especially in New York City -- you're standing on line. By the time you get as far west as Morris County (about 30 miles from Manhattan), many people will probably say they're in line. In the immediate vicinity of the city, though, people are on line. I don't doubt that some, in fact, are online while they're on line.

Here are a few more idioms you probably won't hear in the Midwest:

If you go into a supermarket, be sure to take your carriage if you plan to buy a lot of stuff. Or your shopping cart.

If your cah overheats, you may need to put water in the RAD-ee-a-tor, not the RAY-dee-a-tor.

Here's one I especially like -- if you're on line and the person in front of you says "g'head," he or she is being polite, telling you, "go ahead -- after you." To say it like a native, you have to elide the "go ahead" into a single syllable. Try it! Now you're talking Jerseyan!

For those Jerseyans who have seen the movie "Fargo," let me assure you that some people do talk that way, but most don't. But you probably will find a rounder O in North Dakota than anywhere else in America. (Or anywhere. I don't think a rounder O is possible than the North Dakota classic.) To learn more about the North Dakota dialect, read my Communicating with North Dakotans page.

back to North Jersey

Oh, I suppose this material is ©1997, 1998 Shewi.
Most recently updated: 21 March 1998.

	That Accent
	It's true -- a lot of people here drink caughfee, and some drive cahs. I've even heard youse on a couple of occasions. I was a little disappointed, though, to find that most people speak like Midwesterners, more or less. (I'm talking about the Tom Brokaw set of Midwesterners, not the Ole 'n Lena set.) (I've never heard a resident of this state say, "Joisey," incidentally -- though I've heard plenty of people elsewhere say it. I guess it's one of those deals like "Casablanca," where Bogart never says the famous, "Play it again, Sam.") Of course, because there are many, many ethnic communities here, you'll hear all sorts of other accents. The same is true in the Midwest, of course, but I notice it more here. Here's an interesting bit of regional trivia for you: In the Midwest, if you're standing single-file with other people, you're waiting in line. Out here -- especially in New York City -- you're standing on line. By the time you get as far west as Morris County (about 30 miles from Manhattan), many people will probably say they're in line. In the immediate vicinity of the city, though, people are on line. I don't doubt that some, in fact, are online while they're on line. Here are a few more idioms you probably won't hear in the Midwest: If you go into a supermarket, be sure to take your carriage if you plan to buy a lot of stuff. Or your shopping cart. If your cah overheats, you may need to put water in the RAD-ee-a-tor, not the RAY-dee-a-tor. Here's one I especially like -- if you're on line and the person in front of you says "g'head," he or she is being polite, telling you, "go ahead -- after you." To say it like a native, you have to elide the "go ahead" into a single syllable. Try it! Now you're talking Jerseyan! For those Jerseyans who have seen the movie "Fargo," let me assure you that some people do talk that way, but most don't. But you probably will find a rounder O in North Dakota than anywhere else in America. (Or anywhere. I don't think a rounder O is possible than the North Dakota classic.) To learn more about the North Dakota dialect, read my Communicating with North Dakotans page.
	back to North Jersey
	Oh, I suppose this material is ©1997, 1998 Shewi. Most recently updated: 21 March 1998.