Re: Speaking of Accents

Posted by Diana on November 17, 1999 at 09:17:15:

In Reply to: Re: Speaking of Accents posted by Doc M on November 15, 1999 at 13:04:41:

: : : My husband had heard that the Virginia Tidewater accent is actually the way the first colonials from England spoke. Does anyone know if there is any truth to this?

: : : Dana S.

: :
: : Yes, there is truth to this. There is a specific place, the name of which escapes me, but yeah, it's basically true!

: I've also heard that this was true about some of the real
: oldtimers living on the Outer Banks of NC. And there may
: be a few pockets left in the Appalachians where you can
: hear traces of it, but it's dying out rapidly. There are
: two really good books that talk about this, both by
: Horace Kephart -- "Our Southern Highlanders" and "Smoky
: Mountain Voices." And how about the music? The more I
: listen to traditional Irish and Scots music and bluegrass,
: you hear all the parallels. Fascinating stuff.

: I know, I know -- an unusual Doc M. post. It happens
: once in a while. Maybe I got hit in the head! VBG!

: Doc M

Doc M,

You are very right! Here in Eastern NC we call them hightiders (pronounced somthing like hoitoiders) and this accent is especially evident on Ocracoke (we call them O'kockers -sp?). Sometimes you can't even understand them - and they're speaking ENGLISH!! My ex-husband had a bit of this accent and the first time he came to meet my family, my then four year old neice fell in love with him. She sat on his lap all evening and just googled up at him. Then at the end of the evening when everyone was making ready to leave and saying good-byes - she looked up at him and said "Speaky english." She's 18 now and we still tease her about that at holiday get-togethers!

Diana

Follow Ups:

• Re: Speaking of Accents Doc M 15:19:48 11/17/99 (1)
  • Re: Speaking of Accents Dana S. 18:49:42 11/17/99 (0)

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Comments:
: : : : My husband had heard that the Virginia Tidewater accent is actually the way the first colonials from England spoke.  Does anyone know if there is any truth to this?

: : : : Dana S.

: : : 
: : : Yes, there is truth to this. There is a specific place, the name of which escapes me, but yeah, it's basically true!

: : I've also heard that this was true about some of the real
: : oldtimers living on the Outer Banks of NC. And there may
: : be a few pockets left in the Appalachians where you can
: : hear traces of it, but it's dying out rapidly. There are
: : two really good books that talk about this, both by
: : Horace Kephart -- "Our Southern Highlanders" and "Smoky
: : Mountain Voices." And how about the music? The more I
: : listen to traditional Irish and Scots music and bluegrass,
: : you hear all the parallels. Fascinating stuff. 

: : I know, I know -- an unusual Doc M. post. It happens
: : once in a while. Maybe I got hit in the head! VBG!

: : Doc M

: 
: Doc M,

: You are very right! Here in Eastern NC we call them hightiders (pronounced somthing like hoitoiders) and this accent is especially evident on Ocracoke (we call them O'kockers -sp?). Sometimes you can't even understand them - and they're speaking ENGLISH!! My ex-husband had a bit of this accent and the first time he came to meet my family, my then four year old neice fell in love with him. She sat on his lap all evening and just googled up at him. Then at the end of the evening when everyone was making ready to leave and saying good-byes - she looked up at him and said "Speaky english." She's 18 now and we still tease her about that at holiday get-togethers!

: Diana


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