Thanks Hydro good info,
I'm really familiar with the history of your Civil War, at one point I had an encyclopedic knowledge of specific battles and events. It was a fascinating conflict. As I understand it, there are a few "pockets" in the deep South that are still very "Confederate' in their outlook.
Next question:
Can you guys tell immediately when you hear someone speaking and who is not from your area which State they come from?
Some questions about America
We moved to Atlanta from Ohio ( I was also from Wisconsin, born in Milwaukee, moved to Ohio while in High School). Fell in love with the south while on vacation.
My wife says " Northern by birth, southern by choice", and neither care about moving back north anymore.
There was an adjustment at first, kids hated it etc, etc. But it wasn't long before it was home.
My kids both have the southern speech and grandkids even more. Me... the words "ya'all" do not come out so I don't even try, it just sounds like a northerner trying to fit in!
Do other countries have a divide like the north and south?
My wife says " Northern by birth, southern by choice", and neither care about moving back north anymore.
There was an adjustment at first, kids hated it etc, etc. But it wasn't long before it was home.
My kids both have the southern speech and grandkids even more. Me... the words "ya'all" do not come out so I don't even try, it just sounds like a northerner trying to fit in!
Do other countries have a divide like the north and south?
pbraun wrote:
On mainland Australia, you can guess at where someone is from more by the expressions they use than a particular accent. That has always fascinated me because Australia is a big place, but there are not (in my opinion at least and I have lived in most States in Australia) distinctive accents from State to State, although some individual words are pronounced differently from place to place.
Australia has 6 States and 3 territories (part of Antarctica being 1 of the Territories) plus some Island Territories.
Do other countries have a divide like the north and south?
On mainland Australia, you can guess at where someone is from more by the expressions they use than a particular accent. That has always fascinated me because Australia is a big place, but there are not (in my opinion at least and I have lived in most States in Australia) distinctive accents from State to State, although some individual words are pronounced differently from place to place.
Chasplaya wrote:
It originated at Chumley's, a famous 1900's New York speakeasy located at 86 Bedford St.. During Prohibition, the entrance through an interior adjoining courtyard was used for it was both discreet and private. As per New York tradition, cops were on Chumley's payroll, and when they were about to raid the joint, they would call ahead. The bartender would then give the command "86 everybody," which meant that everyone should hightail it out the Bedford St. entrance for the cops were coming in through the courtyard.
There are several reported origins but this is the one that seems to come up the most.I've heard about Eighty six something and I believe it means reject it but where on earth does it stem from?
It originated at Chumley's, a famous 1900's New York speakeasy located at 86 Bedford St.. During Prohibition, the entrance through an interior adjoining courtyard was used for it was both discreet and private. As per New York tradition, cops were on Chumley's payroll, and when they were about to raid the joint, they would call ahead. The bartender would then give the command "86 everybody," which meant that everyone should hightail it out the Bedford St. entrance for the cops were coming in through the courtyard.
Question #1) "Five and Dime" came to be lingo used for the corner 'variety' store. F.W. Woolworth's was actually a British held company (or PLC) established in 1909. The one that really comes to mind was in Arkansas back in the early 60's, the owner named it "Walton's Five and Dime". We know 'it' today as WalMart.
Question #2) I can remember my elders saying "86 Skedaddle" when I was young. Supposedly, back in the 20's, during prohibition (of Alcohol). One of the more famous 'speak easy's' was "Chumley's". The Main entrance led through an interior courtyard, usually gaurded by 'peace officers' who were, of course 'on the take'. Chumley's was located on 86 Bedford St. in Greenwich Village (or, Old New York).
When the 'real law' would appear at the entrance to the courtyard, to 'raid' the place, the word "86" was used to warn the customers to "86 it out of here". That's one of the stories anyways.
Another is the link to the 86th story of the Empire State Building, until they put up the fence on the observation deck, folks could jump off.
A standard Grave's is 7 foot 2 inches, or 86 inches.
The height of a door frame (the framed opening before the door casing is installed)is 7 feet, 2 inches, or 86 inches.
Which ever you buy, "86 it" became slang to mean 'get rid of it (or them)'. "86 it out of here" came to mean "Let's leave" (ergo "86 Skedaddle"), and of course "You've been 86'd" came to mean "You've been thrown out of here".
Question #3) North vs South?? Thought that crap was finally over!
Nahh, still there. Most of the poverty in the US was, and still is, located in the Southern States. Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Arizona, New Mexico, and yes, even Texas. I should also mention Washington D.C. ranks way up there. With poverty comes (and one of the causes of) low educational support, simply put, the kids suffer the most, they are are largest group of the poverty stricken. So the South has this stigma attached to it as 'poor dumb folk'. Silly, since some of the Major Corporations have their corporate headquarters in the South and even NASA headquarters here. And "Compaq Computers" used to be located in the Houston area, and let's not forget "TXI" (Texas Instruments).
Honestly, it's become a 'cultural' thing. A different style of living. Just ask Neil to explain the difference between "Southern" California and "Northern".
Question #2) I can remember my elders saying "86 Skedaddle" when I was young. Supposedly, back in the 20's, during prohibition (of Alcohol). One of the more famous 'speak easy's' was "Chumley's". The Main entrance led through an interior courtyard, usually gaurded by 'peace officers' who were, of course 'on the take'. Chumley's was located on 86 Bedford St. in Greenwich Village (or, Old New York).
When the 'real law' would appear at the entrance to the courtyard, to 'raid' the place, the word "86" was used to warn the customers to "86 it out of here". That's one of the stories anyways.
Another is the link to the 86th story of the Empire State Building, until they put up the fence on the observation deck, folks could jump off.
A standard Grave's is 7 foot 2 inches, or 86 inches.
The height of a door frame (the framed opening before the door casing is installed)is 7 feet, 2 inches, or 86 inches.
Which ever you buy, "86 it" became slang to mean 'get rid of it (or them)'. "86 it out of here" came to mean "Let's leave" (ergo "86 Skedaddle"), and of course "You've been 86'd" came to mean "You've been thrown out of here".
Question #3) North vs South?? Thought that crap was finally over!
Nahh, still there. Most of the poverty in the US was, and still is, located in the Southern States. Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Arizona, New Mexico, and yes, even Texas. I should also mention Washington D.C. ranks way up there. With poverty comes (and one of the causes of) low educational support, simply put, the kids suffer the most, they are are largest group of the poverty stricken. So the South has this stigma attached to it as 'poor dumb folk'. Silly, since some of the Major Corporations have their corporate headquarters in the South and even NASA headquarters here. And "Compaq Computers" used to be located in the Houston area, and let's not forget "TXI" (Texas Instruments).
Honestly, it's become a 'cultural' thing. A different style of living. Just ask Neil to explain the difference between "Southern" California and "Northern".
I have a lot of questions. While you guys keep answering I'll keep asking.
Is there an acknowledged "best" concert venue in the USA? I know there must be hundreds of venues, but is there one that stands out? Madison Square Garden is the one I hear about most often. Is it the best?
Is there an acknowledged "best" concert venue in the USA? I know there must be hundreds of venues, but is there one that stands out? Madison Square Garden is the one I hear about most often. Is it the best?
Question #4) Yep, sur nuff y'all. Slang, linguistics, pro-noun-ci-ation, all of it. I mean ya ain't gonna hear no northerner say sumton like "Ain't no sense beatin' a dead horse...but then again, can't hurt the critter none either!"
Or: "Nuttier than a squirrel turd".
How's 'bout a Cowboy saying:
"Don't go worrying too much 'bout it, just do what ya' can and let the rough end drag" (Has to do with handling a rope - normally the 'rough end' aka the fringed one, is the end that doesn't get used)
Or: "You're 'bout as useful as a cow on a crutch"
Or: "All ya' gotta do is stay up there in that saddle son, I ain't asking all that much of ya'"
Or: "Git" kinda like "Let's 86"
Or, one of my personal favorites: "Busier than a cat covering up it's S*&^#t on a concrete floor"
One of my Dad's favorites (Must have heard it a million times): "Stop that before I slap the tar out of ya" (Actually, he said it more like one word, at least I thought it was, like "Tarouchya")
One last: "He's nice enough and all, but I think his gene pool needs a bit of chlorine"
OK, one more: "Dumber than the box the rocks come in" (in reference to "Dumber than a box of rocks")
One for the Ladies: "Now ain't that just all Peachy and stuff"
And of course the 'ol southern response when the kiddo wants something you know you ain't gonna get 'em: "And if a bullfrog had wings it wouldn't bump it's ass when it hops"
For you engineers: "That makes about as much sense as puttin' wheels on crutches"
Or: "Nuttier than a squirrel turd".
How's 'bout a Cowboy saying:
"Don't go worrying too much 'bout it, just do what ya' can and let the rough end drag" (Has to do with handling a rope - normally the 'rough end' aka the fringed one, is the end that doesn't get used)
Or: "You're 'bout as useful as a cow on a crutch"
Or: "All ya' gotta do is stay up there in that saddle son, I ain't asking all that much of ya'"
Or: "Git" kinda like "Let's 86"
Or, one of my personal favorites: "Busier than a cat covering up it's S*&^#t on a concrete floor"
One of my Dad's favorites (Must have heard it a million times): "Stop that before I slap the tar out of ya" (Actually, he said it more like one word, at least I thought it was, like "Tarouchya")
One last: "He's nice enough and all, but I think his gene pool needs a bit of chlorine"
OK, one more: "Dumber than the box the rocks come in" (in reference to "Dumber than a box of rocks")
One for the Ladies: "Now ain't that just all Peachy and stuff"
And of course the 'ol southern response when the kiddo wants something you know you ain't gonna get 'em: "And if a bullfrog had wings it wouldn't bump it's ass when it hops"
For you engineers: "That makes about as much sense as puttin' wheels on crutches"
tovo wrote:
No, not really. We can pick up regional variations like the Southern drawl or the New England long vowels. Midwesterners have a few traits and Minnesotoans (sp?) have an almost Canadian accent, eh? I can usually pick up a Texas "twang" accent pretty quickly.
I live in the Pacific Northwest and it has been generally agreed that we have the least amount of accent of anywhere in the USA. This is probably due to this area being the last in the US that was settled and it was settled by a wide variety of Europeans especially Swedish, Norwegian and Dutch along with many Chinese and others. The linguists say they can identify us with three words, two of them Native American Indian.
Regional dialects are a fascinating study! :cheer:
Next question:
Can you guys tell immediately when you hear someone speaking and who is not from your area which State they come from?
No, not really. We can pick up regional variations like the Southern drawl or the New England long vowels. Midwesterners have a few traits and Minnesotoans (sp?) have an almost Canadian accent, eh? I can usually pick up a Texas "twang" accent pretty quickly.
I live in the Pacific Northwest and it has been generally agreed that we have the least amount of accent of anywhere in the USA. This is probably due to this area being the last in the US that was settled and it was settled by a wide variety of Europeans especially Swedish, Norwegian and Dutch along with many Chinese and others. The linguists say they can identify us with three words, two of them Native American Indian.
Regional dialects are a fascinating study! :cheer:
Lots and lots of venues, for just about everything now days. Here where I live is the new "Cowboys Stadium".
Madison Square Garden is probably the most famous Northern one, the Ryman Auditorium the Southern one.
In Ft. Worth, the "Bass Performance Hall" is becoming rather well know, internationally in fact, as one of the most acoustically correct venues around. I've been twice for an Opera and once for a "Broadway" type show (Cinderella). The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, one of the few Piano competitions to get air play on Television, has been held there for the last eleven years.
Madison Square Garden is probably the most famous Northern one, the Ryman Auditorium the Southern one.
In Ft. Worth, the "Bass Performance Hall" is becoming rather well know, internationally in fact, as one of the most acoustically correct venues around. I've been twice for an Opera and once for a "Broadway" type show (Cinderella). The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, one of the few Piano competitions to get air play on Television, has been held there for the last eleven years.
This is not a question but more of an observation.
I am travelling a lot throughout the US and one thing that amazes me is that everybody (the customers I meet anyway (technical people)seems to be from somewhere else. Most people are not working in the same area they were born. Nobody seems to be missing their hometown as they feel they are home anywhere in the US.
Marc
I am travelling a lot throughout the US and one thing that amazes me is that everybody (the customers I meet anyway (technical people)seems to be from somewhere else. Most people are not working in the same area they were born. Nobody seems to be missing their hometown as they feel they are home anywhere in the US.
Marc