Thicknesse: Question on Pronunciation

[Steve]

---  "MJ" <maritajan at ...> wrote:
>
> ---  Alex Hogan <predigirl1@> 
> wrote:
> >
> > My stepchildren are being raised using proper 
> > grammar, and, if I hear too much of a "twang" I 
> > quash it immediatly. ... 
> > 
> > I truly don't understand embracing a pattern of 
> > speech that automaticly brands you as unintelligent!
> > ... Well, not the accent itself, but it is usually 
> > associated with terrible grammar, therefore, people 
> > think "hick", "white trailer trash", "Jerry Springer 
> > rejects", etc... 
> >  ...
> >    
> >   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."  
> ...
> 
> As a southerner, I'm proud of my heritage. ...
> 
> And if that brands me as "unintelligent," so be 
> it....
> 
> 
> MJ
>

bboyminn:

I don't want to speak for Alex, but perhaps you missed
this little qualifier to Alex's statement -

"Well, not the accent itself, but it is usually 
associated with terrible grammar, therefore, people 
think "hick" ..."

This in not unique to the south, but I think fairly
the southern accent does accentuate both the sound
and the concept. That is, a hick bad grammar 'Jerry
Springer reject' from the Midwest sounds less 
annoying than a hick bad grammar 'Jerry Springer
reject' from the deep south.

I don't think anyone is denying that a refined
southern accent can sound...well...refined. But
without a doubt, a dead common southern accent
and associated grammar sounds...well...really really
dead common. 

Again, this isn't unique to the south, just more
noticable. Take Britain as an example, a Posh 
upper class British accent sounds refined to anyone
who hears it, but a dead common 'common' sound 
annoying to anyone who hears it. 

For what it's worth.

Steve/bboyminn