Regional Dialects/Odd Sayings

[Grok]

Wow, this is a great thread. I've always been amused by the dialects/slang in the US and in other countries, and have often wondered about the origins of words and phrases. Someone at the beginning of this thread mentioned that people in Cincinnati, Ohio, say "Please?" when someone says something they didn't hear or understand and want the person to repeat it. Generally, English speakers would say "Pardon?" Cincinnatians will say either one in this situation; both are common. The reason "please" is acceptable comes from the German language. Cincinnati was established by German settlers who initially settled in Pennsylvania. The German word "bitte" means both "pardon" and "please." For some reason the German usage carried over to English. Why this didn't happened in other cities settled by Germans, I don't know. I mean, I'm pretty sure people from Pittsburgh don't have this usage.

Other words in Cincinnati:
- "Pop" is more common than "soda." "Coke" means "Coca-Cola", not Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Sprite, etc.
- Some people do say "warsh" instead of "wash"; or "Warshington". Seems to be dying out, though. After I had been to other places and got laughed at for adding the "r" to these words, I taught myself to say it like "normal" people and have no problem doing so now. But when I first started practicing, it felt like I had cotton in my mouth saying, "waaash!" Felt very unnatural.
- People pronounce "theater" as "The-A-ter" (stressing the second syllable) instead of "THE-a-ter" like the majority of the country. For "creek", saying "crik" is almost as common as "crEEk". I think it is due to the influence of Kentucky/Southern dialects.
- Here's the strangest of the bunch. People used to refer to "bell peppers" as "mangoes". It was common when I was a kid, but thankfully, it's not prevalent anymore. Someone finally figured out mango fruit grows from a tropical Asian evergreen tree, a tree not really found in Ohio for some reason. :rolleyes The word was mostly heard in reference to "stuffed mangoes" - bell peppers stuffed with cooked ground beef. I have no clue how these two words got mixed up. Mangoes and bell peppers look nothing alike, for crying out loud.

Here's something I haven't noticed being mentioned on this thread. Have any of you ever known anyone to add "And what not" at the end of sentences? Example, "I went to the store to buy clothes and what not." I've heard it from time to time but have never been able to pinpoint it to a region of the country. Maybe Midwestern? Maybe it's from the Queen's English?

[Google]

 

[senrik]

Originally Posted by Grok

Other words in Cincinnati:
- "Pop" is more common than "soda." "Coke" means "Coca-Cola", not Pepsi, Dr Pepper, Sprite, etc.
- Here's the strangest of the bunch. People used to refer to "bell peppers" as "mangoes". It was common when I was a kid, but thankfully, it's not prevalent anymore. Someone finally figured out mango fruit grows from a tropical Asian evergreen tree, a tree not really found in Ohio for some reason. :rolleyes The word was mostly heard in reference to "stuffed mangoes" - bell peppers stuffed with cooked ground beef. I have no clue how these two words got mixed up. Mangoes and bell peppers look nothing alike, for crying out loud.

My wife uses the term capsicum for that particular fruit.
She uses Aubergine for Eggplant and sultanas for raisins as well.

Haf the time I don't know what the hell she is talking about.

[Grok]

Originally Posted by senrik

My wife uses the term capsicum for that particular fruit.
She uses Aubergine for Eggplant and sultanas for raisins as well.

Haf the time I don't know what the hell she is talking about.

I had to look up capsicum in the dictionary. Wasn't sure if capsicum referred to a mango or a bell pepper - both fruits. Figured out capsicum is from the pepper family. Hadn't heard of the words Aubergine and sultanas for eggplant and raisins, respectively. Learn something new every day. Sounds like your wife knows a lot about cooking/food prep.

[Belfastgirl]

A bell pepper is just a "pepper" here, either red, green or yellow and we have aubergines and potatoes are often called spuds. We also have scallions which people in England call spring onions. I think I've heard the word scallions is used in America.Is that right?

[ravs]

Originally Posted by Grok

Here's something I haven't noticed being mentioned on this thread. Have any of you ever known anyone to add "And what not" at the end of sentences? Example, "I went to the store to buy clothes and what not." I've heard it from time to time but have never been able to pinpoint it to a region of the country. Maybe Midwestern? Maybe it's from the Queen's English?

My work collegue who's orignally from the UK but has migrated to Australia says that the people who live in my state tend to put 'aay' at the end of the sentence. "what you doing aay?" I completely disagreed with her however I have been caught out by saying it

[FinallyHere]

Originally Posted by Belfastgirl

I think I've heard the word scallions is used in America.Is that right?

Yep, Belfastgirl. We say scallions in The US (in New York anyway).

[Harmoj]

I'm in Indiana...we call scallions green onions.
And any softdrink (pop) is Coke. I can ask my husband if he wants a Coke, and he'll say, Yeah, bring me a Mt. Dew.

[Harmoj]

Oh, I thought of another one. My parents are from the Chicago area. Growing up we always called these flowers (see attachment) peonies (pee-o-nees). Everyone at my office calls them pionies (pie-o-nees).

My Grandmother used to say the funniest things. Some of the ones I remember are: Catty-corner (for across the street), dumb as a box of rocks, silly as a jay bird, naked as a mole rat, greasy as a preacher on Saturday night...

[Grok]

Originally Posted by ravs

My work collegue who's orignally from the UK but has migrated to Australia says that the people who live in my state tend to put 'aay' at the end of the sentence. "what you doing aay?" I completely disagreed with her however I have been caught out by saying it

Interesting. I thought this was only a Canadian thing. Not all Canadians do, but I've known a few who do this. Some Americans do it too occasionally - just to be funny.

[senrik]

Originally Posted by Harmoj

Oh, I thought of another one. My parents are from the Chicago area. Growing up we always called these flowers (see attachment) peonies (pee-o-nees). Everyone at my office calls them pionies (pie-o-nees).

My Grandmother used to say the funniest things. Some of the ones I remember are: Catty-corner (for across the street), dumb as a box of rocks, silly as a jay bird, naked as a mole rat, greasy as a preacher on Saturday night...

my wife calls them peonies (pay-own-knees). She also often ends a sentance with 'lah'

"what are you doing, lah?"