Thicknesse: Question on Pronunciation

[MJ]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, Alex Hogan <predigirl1 at ...> 
wrote:
>
>     My stepchildren are being raised using proper grammar, and, if 
I hear too much of a "twang" I quash it immediatly. My husband (whom 
I love with all my heart, he is a wonderful husband and father) has a 
strong Texas accent, and rather hideous grammar.  He is too old (39!) 
and set in his ways to "fix". But the children are little girls (7 
and 4), and I want to give them the best chance in life. He is fine 
with everything that I do as long as " they don't sound like 
Yankees"!  How funny is that? I was raised in West Texas and I refuse 
to sound like a hick. And, yes, I say "oy-il ", also. Fortunatly, I 
had family in Illinois and spent every  summer with them as a child 
and teenager. I now have rather a mixed accent.
>       I truly don't understand embracing a pattern of speech that 
automaticly brands you as unintelligent! Right or wrong, that is what 
people think of the Southern accent. Well, not the accent itself, but 
it is usually associated with terrible grammar, therefore, people 
think "hick", "white trailer trash", "Jerry Springer rejects", etc... 
>       It is sad when people perpetuate the stereotype.
>    
>   Alex Hogan
>    
    

What is the point of this entire post, but perpetuating the 
stereotype?

As a 7th generation Kentuckian, now living in Tenneseee, I'm offended 
at even the suggestion that my drawl "brands me as unintelligent."  
Frankly, if someone is going to judge my intelligence or social worth 
(i.e., whether or not I'm a 'hick, white trailer trash or Jerry 
Springer reject') based on how I pronounce my vowels, that reflects 
more on their character than it does on mine.

As a southerner, I'm proud of my heritage.  I'm proud of my family 
history.  I love the way I talk, and the soft sound of the way I 
pronounce my words.  

And if that brands me as "unintelligent," so be it.  Frankly, I have 
more questions about the intelligence of the person who so brands me 
based on regional speech patterns.


MJ