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What Kind Of American English Do You Speak?

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 8:02 pm
by Susan
I had found this link to a site that has a test to determine your linguistic profile, after reading Constantine's post, I thought it might be fun to add.

Heres my profile:

45% General American English
40% Yankee
10% Dixie
5% Upper Midwestern
0% Midwestern

Give it a try:

http://www.blogthings.com/amenglishdialecttest/

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 8:36 pm
by doug65oh
35% General American English
30% Yankee
15% Dixie
15% Upper Midwestern
5% Midwestern

...and here's mine. (No wonder I can't understand myself!!) :lol:

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 8:39 pm
by Nancie
that's fun Susan! I'm half General and half Yankee.
makes sense to me! Thanks for diversion

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 8:54 pm
by Harry
Cool find Susan!

I'm:

55% General American English
30% Yankee
15% Dixie
0% Midwestern
0% Upper Midwestern

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 9:23 pm
by FairhavenGuy
50% Yankee
25% General American English
10% Dixie
10% Upper Midwestern
0% Midwestern


It doesn't seem from the number of choices for each question that one could be 100% anything.

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 9:25 pm
by Audrey
Your Linguistic Profile:
55% Yankee
20% Dixie
20% General American English
5% Upper Midwestern
0% Midwestern

Very fun!

I am surprised.... I lived in Boston when I first moved to the USA but I have lived in the Midwest longer!

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:27 pm
by Kat
Your Linguistic Profile:

60% General American English
20% Dixie
20% Yankee
0% Midwestern
0% Upper Midwestern

I have no midwestern. I haven't really travelled the midwest.
Born in PA, but lived in Florida off and on for almost 40 years. There's no sign of my living in California!
Thanks, Susan!

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:36 pm
by Harry
Auds, your's is very interesting since you were not raised in the U.S.A. I think where you were raised is the strongest factor.

May I ask where you learned English?

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:39 pm
by theebmonique
I thought I would have more 'Dixie' in me...

Your Linguistic Profile:
65% General American English
10% Dixie
10% Upper Midwestern
10% Yankee
5% Midwestern


Tracy...

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 10:53 pm
by Kat
Until you, Tracy- I was the highest percentage of General American Usage.
Did you move around a lot?
We did.

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:02 pm
by Harry
So far Chris and Audrey are the only two where General American is not the major usage.

How interesting.

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:09 pm
by Audrey
I learned English in my school, then some in The Sorbonne and also in Gstaad.

Mainly though, I would say I learned it by using it once I moved here.

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:18 pm
by Allen
Your Linguistic Profile:
70% General American English
15% Dixie
5% Midwestern
5% Upper Midwestern
5% Yankee

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:28 pm
by Harry
Thanks Auds. That helps explain the Yankee influence since you have said that you had lived in Boston.

It will be interesting to see how other Yankees do on that test.

Calling Mark, Lyddie and Gramma and all other New Englanders.

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:33 pm
by theebmonique
I moved around a little...but not much. What moving around I did was when I was very young.

From birth to 4- -Utah
From 4 to 5- -Montana
From 5 to 6- -Colorado
From 6 to present- -Utah


I wonder why we scored the way we did ?


Tracy...

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 3:25 am
by Kat
And now Allen at 70%

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 4:25 am
by Allen
I don't know if this would really have anything to do with it, but I live in the upper Northern Panhandle of West Virginia or the Ohio Valley however you want to look at it. I'm literally only minutes away from two state borders. I could be in either Pennsylvania or Ohio in five minutes. People in this area spend a lot of time traveling between three states. I have not noticed any sort of an accent in this area of my state. But the farther into downstate West Virginia you go you run into the southern accents. My husband was surprised when he found his biological mother who only lives four hours away in downstate West Virginia, and she has a strong southern accent, as do his three sisters.

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:13 am
by Audrey
They have some fun stuff to do there...

My "naughty movie" name would be "Sweetest Sin"

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:55 am
by Smudgeman
That was fun Susan, thanks. I scored:
65% General American English
30% Dixie
5% Yankee
0% Midwestern
0% Upper Midwestern

I was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, and have lived here all my life.

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 10:05 am
by Allen
Audrey @ Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:13 am wrote:They have some fun stuff to do there...

My "naughty movie" name would be "Sweetest Sin"
I took some of the other tests as well. While I won't post some of the results, they were a real hoot :lol: .

Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence

You are excellent with words and language. You explain yourself well.
An elegant speaker, you can converse well with anyone on the fly.
You are also good at remembering information and convicing someone of your point of view.
A master of creative phrasing and unique words, you enjoy expanding your vocabulary.

You would make a fantastic poet, journalist, writer, teacher, lawyer, politician, or translator.

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 2:26 pm
by Kat
I took the "Normal" test and found out I was 60% Normal, which they claim is a "Normal Amount Of Normal."

My age I act at is 27.

Hey Scott! The highest in General American English usuage! I always considered Atlanta the Hub of the Universe. And anytime we take a plane from down south we usually have to go through Atlanta. I think the truckers go thru / near there to get anywhere east and south as well.

Allen, that makes sense that you have the high General American English Usuage living in a Tri-State area!

I've lived in PA, Maryland, Texas, California, Massachusetts and Florida. The longests stints were in California, Mass. and Florida.

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 4:53 pm
by theebmonique
This is scary. I think I probably got some lucky guesses.
You Are Incredibly Logical

(You got 100% of the questions right)

Move over Spock - you're the new master of logic
You think rationally, clearly, and quickly.
A seasoned problem solver, your mind is like a computer!


You Are 75% Normal
(Really Normal)

Otherwise known as the normal amount of normal
You're like most people most of the time
But you've got those quirks that make you endearing
You're unique, yes... but not frighteningly so!


What Age Do You Act?

You Are 27 Years Old
27

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe.

13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world.

20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences.

30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more!

40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 5:39 pm
by FairhavenGuy
Well, Harry, I'm trying to hang on to my Yankee lingo as much as I can. More and more people around here say "basement" now instead of "cellar" and even the ones who use the word cellar don't much say "I'm going down cellar" anymore. I do. Always have.

More and more I'm saying "shopping cart" instead of "carriage," but I checked "carriage" on the test because that's what I've called it for most of my life.

I'm proud to be a Yankee, but I do try to pronounce my Rs. People coming into the Visitors Center from other parts of the country ask why I don't say "pahk the cah" because that's how we're supposed to talk here.

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 5:51 pm
by doug65oh
Gee, this one is actually accurate! Most days, give or take the occasional bone scream, I feel just about twenty-six years old! :lol:

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 5:51 pm
by Nancie
That site is addicting and fun! Too bad though I'm going to die at age 67, I have an obsessive personality disorder, and I'm only 60% normal.

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 6:06 pm
by doug65oh
There are three things which are real:
God, human folly, and laughter;
While the first two are beyond our comprehension,
We must do what we can with the third.

-ancient Irish proverb

Faith and begorrah - me "inner European" be Irish!! :lol:

Erin go Bragh!!! :wink:

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 6:24 pm
by Audrey
I will live to be 91 (I hope not!)

I am 50% normal...

I am Your 93.33% Female, 6.67% Male. (No shocks there)

I am mentally 27, which is close to my real age anyway.

As a flirt.. I am charismatic.... Hmmmmmm

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 7:13 pm
by Nancie
i'm only 73% female, no wonder I can't get me
a good man!

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:00 pm
by FairhavenGuy
Okay, the good news, I guess, is I'm living to be 82.

The bad news is the results of the other tests are so screwy that I'm not even going to post them.

Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2005 11:36 pm
by Kat
Nancie @ Sat Apr 16, 2005 5:51 pm wrote:That site is addicting and fun! Too bad though I'm going to die at age 67, I have an obsessive personality disorder, and I'm only 60% normal.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Oh Nancie! You are too funny!!

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 12:23 am
by doug65oh
Hmmm... apparently I'm to have another 45 and a half years or thereabouts, to 85 years of age. (It's gotta be that "inner Irish" thing, hehe.) As for the rest of those tests... that's all I have to say about that! :lol:

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 1:54 am
by Kat
You Will Die at Age 85
85
Congratulations! You take good care of yourself.
You're poised to live a long, healthy life.


--I'd better start saving my money!

DougOh, you must be eating your fruits and veggies, right?

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 8:48 am
by doug65oh
Well somewhat... :lol: (Not yet today, but I'll get 'round to it.) I suspect owning a dog may do wonders. :wink:

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 3:10 pm
by Golaszewski
Your Linguistic Profile:

80% General American English
10% Upper Midwestern
5% Midwestern
5% Yankee
0% Dixie

This test actually described me well. I have always lived in Michigan. And, in my younger days I watched a *lot* of TV, thus this would explain my language being heavily General American English.

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 3:21 pm
by Golaszewski
Allen @ Sat Apr 16, 2005 11:05 am wrote:I took some of the other tests as well. While I won't post some of the results, they were a real hoot :lol: .

Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence
http://blogthings.com/intelligencequiz.html

Same here. Little surprise as philosophy is what I studied in college.

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 3:27 pm
by Golaszewski
Your Brain is 20.00% Female, 80.00% Male

You've got the brain of a manly man
Feelings, schmeelings... tears aren't for you.
You could break both legs and not get misty eyed.
A great problem solver, nothing ever phases you.
----
That's me.

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 4:15 pm
by Kat
Why do you have a chubby long-haired Angel Avatar? :?:
(I always wanted to ask you)...

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 4:23 pm
by Audrey
hmmmmm

Your Dominant Intelligence is Linguistic Intelligence...

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005 4:50 pm
by Golaszewski
Kat @ Sun Apr 17, 2005 5:15 pm wrote:Why do you have a chubby long-haired Angel Avatar? :?:
(I always wanted to ask you)...
That's not an angel, but instead a fairy. Long before I ever found this forum, I have used avatars that are fairies. For no particularly good reason other than I like images of fairies. My usual avatar is what I have on the home page of my site:

http://www.dextromethorphan.ws/

[WARNING: This is a harm reduction website about recreational use of dextromethorphan. For those who would find this objectionable, you should NOT go to this site, or my other website coricidin.org. These sites contain some pretty grisly news accounts of murders committed by people high on DXM (destromethorphan). Including a recent one where the murder was sentenced to death after killing and cutting out the hearts of his estranged wife and 2 children. (Then again, I guess that people on these forums are not overly phased about crimes involving violent murders.)]

I also have a fairy image on the home page of coricidin.org. As I wasn't able to compress the fairy image small enough to use as an avatar here, I had to choose some other fairy avatar.

My websites should tend to explain my postings in recent threads about the possibility of Lizzie being under the influence of drugs when she did the murders. I happen to know quite a lot about psychopharmacology.

Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 2:36 am
by Susan
Great, looks like everyone enjoyed the link! :grin: Haven't tried any of the other tests myself yet, but, from the results of others, they sound pretty interesting.

Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 1:41 pm
by Haulover
Your Linguistic Profile:
45% Dixie
45% General American English
5% Midwestern
5% Yankee
0% Upper Midwestern

________________

this is fun. i'm curious to see how old i am.

Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 2:00 pm
by Haulover
the questions on this test were easy to answer:

_____________________________


You Are 45% Normal
(Somewhat Normal)


While some of your behavior is quite normal...
Other things you do are downright strange
You've got a little of your freak going on
But you mostly keep your weirdness to yourself

Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2005 3:56 pm
by Kat
Oh my Goddess - You are full of Dixie!! :cool:

Posted: Thu May 05, 2005 11:29 pm
by Constantine
50% General American English
40% Yankee
10% Dixie
0% Midwestern
0% Upper Midwestern

There are a few things I would quarrel with.

1. I use BOTH cellar and basement
4. Covering a house or area in front with toilet paper? Never heard of such a thing!
6. Comfortable with both water fountain and drinking fountain
10. I don't use ANY of the words for an easy class, but I put "a blow-off," since, presumably, I had to put something.
14. tennis shoes or sneakers (I thought there was a distinction), though I use sneakers much more often.

Do they say what's what anywhere? (I know some of them, for example that pronouncing merry, marry and Mary differently, which I do, is either Yankee or Dixie. (Actually, it's eastern.))

Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 12:06 am
by Constantine
I'm 70% normal
60% female, 40% male (I am male)
will die at 73 (better than I thought)
am mentally 26 years old

Go figure.

Moral: take these things with a grain of salt.

As to my English, I've lived in New York all my life (Queens and Manhattan). Television probably accounts for the large percentage of General American in my speech (and many other people's). Some people claim to detect a hint of a foreign accent (I spoke some Greek as a toddler, but have never been fluent), though others insist I have none. I have a theory that perceiving it goes along with the ability to taste PTC, or perhaps whether or not you like cilantro (I wonder if those two things go together or not), but I've never tested it.

Posted: Fri May 06, 2005 12:14 pm
by Tracie
I am:

55% Yankee
25% general american
5% dixie
0% mid western

and I don't remember upper mid western but I down by 15%!!

Born and raised in southern new england.

Tracie

Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 2:04 pm
by Doug
I just read this topic for the first time so completed the linguistic profile.

My profile is:

50% Yankee

30% General American English

15% Upper Midwestern

5% Dixie

0% Midwestern

I was born, raised, and continue to live in western Connecticut. I spent four years in college in the Boston area. Both of my parents were born, raised, and lived their entire lives in New England. My mother had a very pronounced Boston accent ("pahk the cah").

I find I use different words depending on where I happen to be. For example, in Connecticut I usually say "traffic circle" but if I am in Massachusetts I say "rotary." Likewise when talking about large, long sandwiches I say "grinder" in Connecticut and "sub" when I am in Boston.

I usually say "cellar" unless that area is finished and furnished and then I strive for "basement." I have called those finished and furnished areas "cellar" more than once, but people who own them don't seem to appreciate that.

Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 4:04 pm
by Liz Crouthers
65% General American English
15% Dixie
10% Yankee
5% Midwestern
5% Upper /midwestern

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 8:47 pm
by myk7753
Born and raised in Southern California from South-western born parents and mid-west and southern grandparents and I now live in the mid-west...I got it all covered...:)

***Your Linguistic Profile:***

55% General American English

20% Dixie

10% Yankee

5% Midwestern

5% Upper Midwestern

Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 10:11 pm
by nbcatlover
Your Linguistic Profile:
50% Yankee
20% General American English
20% Upper Midwestern
5% Dixie
0% Midwestern

I want to know what the 5% Dixie is...it must be because I'm from SOUTHERN New England!