My sister is traveling to Barcelona, Spain in just one week so our household has been filled with talk of traveling the world and all that it entails. One thing that has come up a lot is the accent in Barcelona. The people of Barcelona carry an accent with what we would call a lisp (rather than saying Barcelona, it would sounds like Barthelona). And that got me thinking. How did the Boston accent develop? If any Boston native travels to any other part of the country they are instantly singled out for there lack of using their r's and other quirky details we hardly even notice. But why? From where did it originate? And how are we so distinct from other parts of the country?
I mean people from Minnesotta get singled out for their accents and the southern drawl is unmistakable. But, it seems that the Boston accent is infamous no matter where one travels in the country. People find it fascinating and also a bit hilarious. If you have traveled anywhere outside New England surely someone has asked you to say, "park the car in harvard yard," and without hesitation I am sure you humor them. How is it that the Boston accent gained such fame?
I have no idea, but sometimes it gets to be a little much. A lady at work asked me if "Helen ever gave me a cheer." But "cheer" sounded like "chair" to me because her accent was so thick. I was like, why would she give me a chair?
ReplyDeleteI love hearing the Boston/Northern New England accent--makes me feel right at home. I don't think I have a Boston accent at all, but non-New-Englanders still seem to pick up on a few words I say differently--weird/roof/broom most often.
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