One of the charms of Lancaster is the inability of its natives to pronounce words correctly. I had never heard the simple word, “on”, drawn out to 2 syllables before meeting Lori and coming here. I have to think of the proper name, Owen, to say it the Lancaster way. And of course, words like radiator (RAD-iator), sure (shore) and awhile (not so much a pronunciation issue as a simple failure to make sense). I say nothing of 10X sugar, which the rest of us call powdered. That caused no small confusion in the Midwest when Lori was trying to track some down.
Our own Sam Privitera has passed along this quiz to our offices, and we found it to be an accurate diagnostic tool. For myself, I am proudly of the “Inland North” region, and yes, I did grow up calling soda, “pop”. I’ve only adjusted so as to become all things to all Lancasterians.
So follow the link, take the quiz, and let us know what you find.
Midland
Well, that was fun! And it pegged me: “…you are probably from north Jersey, New York City…”. Yep, born and raised in Newark, NJ. Now I’m going to have my kids take it.
Yeah 93% “Island North”. I grew up saying pop but for the sake of Lancaster countyians confusion I say soda while here
My question is how did each of the pastors fall on this quiz! When I moved here I was so confused about the 10x sugar thing too. I had to call my mother in law to find out what she meant on a recipe card she wrote out for me. Took us some time to figure it out. haha
Alicia,
Good question. So far, the results are: Doug & Pete–Philly; Kurt–Northeast. Bill has not taken it yet, to my knowledge.
Steve
Alicia!!! My kids all came out as “Inland North” which I find shocking and amusing since they’ve never been to your neck of the woods. I’m disappointed that they cannot enunciate mary, marry, and merry. I guess I’ll have to call Henry Higgins.
Are you going to use the marbles? Guess your kids have been hanging out with me too much. Muahaha. Good idea. I will test my kids. I know Lily is all Lan Co. She says awhile all the time.
It was correct!
100% Philadelphia. That explains why my kids make fun of me sometimes.
(I was born and raised in Lancaster.)
Inland North. I remember one of the first times I visited family in Texas, I was told I had an accent. Riiiiight (drawl included).
What American accent do you have?
Pete will like this:
Your Result: Philadelphia
100%
Your accent is as Philadelphian as a cheesesteak! If you’re not from Philadelphia, then you’re from someplace near there like south Jersey, Baltimore, or Wilmington. if you’ve ever journeyed to some far off place where people don’t know that Philly has an accent, someone may have thought you talked a little weird even though they didn’t have a clue what accent it was they heard.
It’s “pop” in the Buffalo and Rochester areas of NYS, too, Steve. Somewhere along the NYS Thruway on the way to Paul’s boyhood home in Syracuse, it changes to “soda”. I’ve vowed to make a pilgrimage some day and stop along every exit between Rochester and Syracuse to find out where the change takes place!
Inland North 100 percent — though I don’t know if Syracuse (not Sara-cuse), N.Y., meets that geographic qualification.
It says I’m 100% Midland and tells me “You have a Midland accent” is just another way of saying “you don’t have an accent.”
And even though I grew up in Lancaster, I never heard it called 10x sugar until I met the Driedger family. My Mom always called it powdered sugar, so thats what I do (maybe its her German influence?).
I tested 96% The West? I’ve never lived in the West. At least I am among those who have “the least common denominator”. Good to know.?!?
Midland! So apparently I have a good radio voice. ha.
I am apparently Philadelphian, even though I grew up in Lebanon County – farther away from Philly than I am now. My college friends would laugh at this. They always made fun of my accent/ways of speaking.
Mine says I’m from the south?? Southern Pa. yeah but the south? well ok guess I’ll have to start sayin Yall. Yall sure talk funny up here.
Mine says I’m from Philly?????!!!! Really!!! Visited a few times but born and raised in Lanc.Co….I guess that means our pastor is wearing off on us!
100% Philadelphian
Philadelphian, with 1 percentage point difference between Midland and Northeast.
I distinctly remember some Ohio friends giving me grief about how I said “home”, and “phone”, etc. Apparently I really stick out my lower jaw and drawl out the “oh” sound. Is that the “Owen” you’re referring to???
And, of course marrying an Eastern European who learned English late enough in life to remember grammar rules is constantly a means of humbling me.
“Sorry hon, the chips are all.” (All gone, that is.)