Speaking "American" while traveling

[Frederick L. Simson]

Come on now. There's a big difference between a crick and creek. A creek is a clear mountain stream. A crick runs through a cow pasture and collects cow effluent along with old washing machines, etc.

I heard a story of a county official somewhere having to post a sign on a bridge naming the body of water below. She asked the adjoining land owner what it's name was. "Well," he answered, "It don't really have a name. We all just call it 'the crick'." A month later a sign appeared: "[b]Crick Creek"

[jack maloney]

Anyone but us recovering Milwaukeeans know what a bubbler is? Can you find your way around Loo-uh-vul, or Mizzu-ruh, or Ballamur? If you want to confound a European, show him Puget Sound on a map and ask him to pronounce Puget.

[Suz]

fixin'

I was fixin' to go to the store. You need anything?


figure

I figured you wuz goin', that's why I waited for you.

[Suz]

... and about this time most Texans are saying:

Yeah, and your point is?

[Mary F]

Today, for the first time in a couple months, it looks like it might clabber up and rain.

[Chris C]

"I'm afixin to.........you're afixin to.........she's afixin to" Can anyone tell me from where that quote comes?

[Lizbeth]

You may not know, but there is a river that starts in Colorado, flows through Kansas and Arkansas and empties into the Mississippi. At its start and finish it is called the "ar- CAN -saw", but in its middle section its called the "ar- KANSAS" river. Ask anyone in Wichita.
Tom Trostel

I lived in Hutchinson for several years and always was confused by that one. "The River" ran through town, when I heard "The River" I alway thought Colorado River not the Ar-Kansas River.

[Morgan]

As a [b]native of Sioux City, and proud graduate of Sioux City East High School (a million years ago) I find nothing confusing about that at all! However, also as a native of Iowa during the late fifties and early sixties, I DID learn all about the "Fine Art of Porch Settin'."... a significantly different passtime than 'sitting on fthe veranda', for example.

Roger

on edit: By the way, my grandmother never "washed" a load of laundry in her life. She undoubtedly "worshed" thousands of garments, though...

My bad, Roger.

I, of course, meant Sioux Falls, SD.

[Morgan]

... and about this time most Texans are saying:

Yeah, and your point is?

Speaking of Texans:

A Texan with a lot of life experience might say, "I've been around the world three times and to four goat ropin's."

[Sharon Herman]

My husband is from Pixburg....anybody speak Pittsburgheeze??

jeet jet, nodjew=did you eat yet? No did you?

goin on a pitnit=going on a picnic

claughtyaught=cloudy out

red up yer room= pick up your room

These are just a few....

[Roger H]

I STILL find Sioux City's airline abbreviation most appropriate... SUX.

Roger

[Ron N]

...and then there's this fellow from North Carolina (or maybe South Carolina) who posted a comment about enjoying "the mess" out of his Casita. I can't figure that one out either. How does one compare the word "enjoy" with "mess"?? Man, am I glad I live in Orygone NOT, it's Orygun!!

[Nick]

I always enjoy listening to our new news readers and weather prophets talk about Mexia and Waxahachie.

Nick

[Sharon Herman]

Here's some more Pittsburgeze...

"I pledge allsegiance to da flag anna United States of America. And to da republic fer which it stands, one nation under Gawd, indivisible, wit liberty and jestice fer alls."

Or Not. Ats da question." – Hamlet

Whos videon the stiller game?


Here you can take a test.........

1. “Quit jaggin around with dat jumbo” implies that:
• Someone is sticking thorns into his food.
• Someone is holding a very big weapon.
• Someone is playing with his food.
2 "Dawn is rilly nebby." means that:
• The sunrise is really nice.
• Don’s reel is very sharp.
• Don is a really nosy fellow.
3. "What yinz doin en at?" translates as:
• What are you two eating today?
• What are the youths doing?
• Tell me everything that you two are doing!
4. What action do you take when you hear: "Get aht, dere’s a fahr in da filled!"
• Laugh and smell the pretty flower.
• Look carefully at the filled sections.
• Leave the field and call 911.
5. "If yinz wants served, raise your hans." translates as:
• If you want service, lift some Germans.
• If the youths want to play tennis, they should raise their hands.
• If you want to be served, raise your hands.

[Ron N]

Sharon...your husband is from Pixburg?? As in, PA in the USA or somewhere else in the world? Sounds pretty strange for Pixburg, PA.

[Sharon Herman]

Sharon...your husband is from Pixburg?? As in, PA in the USA or somewhere else in the world? Sounds pretty strange for Pixburg, PA.

Yes, Pittsburgh, PA and yes, it sounds very strange.....once or twice a year I get to try to follow along with all of them...when they really lay it on thick, I'm lost.

[Lew King]

Try Welsh

ie) apple and pares = up the stairs

trouble and strife= your wife

[christineb]

Living in Oregon (Or-E-Gun) we're used to everything being missprounced by travelers. The river running through downtown Portland is the Willamette (Will-ahm-ette, not William-ette).

It's Pop Gina

You think "Willamette" tough? Try SIUSLAW River in Florence
Sigh-oo-slaw
And speaking of different "American" I lived my first 20 years in England, born and raise, as they say. Then then next 20 in Canada (and have Canadian children to prove it) now I'm in the States. I'm sooooooooo confused. When I'm looked at strangely I don't know if it's a "Canadianism" or a "Britspeak" Not to mention all the "I loooooooove you accent"
Christine

[CharlynnT]

In Manitoba, a landfill or garbage dump is called The Nuisance Grounds.

(Fun to go there with your dad, poke a dead cow with a stick when he's not looking!)

In Ontario, people pronounce anything not "aneething" but "en-uh-thing."

Pronounce Shubenachide, Lakelse, Gingolx! Better yet, ask your visiting mother-in-law to give it a try!

[Denis C]

In New Brunswick Canada.
Everything is a bunch....eg "that bunch of water on the floor".
It's never pass me a knife and fork, its a fork'n'knife.
If the fishing is good they say "caught a whole mess of trout"
They take something out of the freezer not to thaw it out but to "unthaw" it