Many Arkansans speak with a Southern dialect or accent, although it is generally characterized as an Upper South accent similar to that of neighboring Oklahoma and Texas, in contrast to the accent of the Deep South accent prevalent in southeastern Arkansas including the Arkansas Delta.
How many dialects are in Arkansas?
two
Informed by this framework, linguists identify two umbrella dialects in the state of Arkansas: Midland, sometimes called South Midland or Mountain Speech, and Southern, which refers to east-coastal Southern speech. Geography also plays a decisive role in the distribution of dialects.
Where does the Southern accent come from?
Where Does the Southern Accent Come From? The development of the Southern accent occurred over hundreds of years and had many contributing factors to its spread, most notably immigration and slavery. The main origin of the accent comes from British immigrants.
Why do people from Oklahoma have a Southern accent?
Oklahoma’s Southern speech patterns can be traced to early settlers who came to Oklahoma from the southeastern United States, said Dennis Preston, Regents Professor at Oklahoma State University. Preston has been studying the way Oklahomans speak and teaches a course on regional dialects at OSU.
What is an Arkansas accent?
Many Arkansans speak with a Southern dialect or accent, although it is generally characterized as an Upper South accent similar to that of neighboring Oklahoma and Texas, in contrast to the accent of the Deep South accent prevalent in southeastern Arkansas including the Arkansas Delta.
What is Arkansas slang?
Arkansawyer, Arkansan, Arkie
2: Referring to a resident or native of Arkansas. Residents who refer to themselves as Arkansawyers commonly proclaim, “There is no Kansas in Arkansas.” when you call them Arkansans.
How do Southerners say hello?
Howdy. This is a Southern way to say hello. Howdy!
What do Southerners say weird?
Words Southerners Say Weird
caint – can’t (I caint do that.) fitt’in – fixing to, about to (I’m fitt’in to buy one.) fitty – fifty (Can I borrow fitty cents?) i’moan – I am going to (I’moan go to that game.)
What state has the most Southern accent?
Mississippi edged out Alabama as the most Southern state by just two votes. Ninety-eight percent of 41,947 readers surveyed thought Mississippi was Southern (which makes it more Southern than Iowa is Midwestern).
Why do Southerners talk slow?
The Southern American English drawl, or “Southern drawl,” involves vowel diphthongization of the front pure vowels, or the “prolongation of the most heavily stressed syllables, with the corresponding weakening of the less stressed ones, so that there is an illusion of slowness even though the tempo may be fast.”
What words do Southerners say differently?
Here are eight of the most perplexing Southern words that people from other places simply wouldn’t understand.
- ‘Coke’ Billionaire Warren Buffett says he drinks five Cokes a day.
- ‘Fixing’ Shutterstock.
- ‘Barbecue’ Flickr / Carlos Pacheco.
- ‘Buggy’
- ‘Mash’
- ‘Yankee’
- ‘Sweeper’
- ‘Foot’
What states have a Southern accent?
Specifically, the Atlas definitively documents a Southern accent in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina (though not Charleston), Georgia (though Atlanta is inconsistent), Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Louisiana (co-occurring with Cajun and New Orleans accents), as well as almost all of
What is the Okie accent?
The Oklahoma dialect, with its Southern influences and use of phrases like “y’all and “fixin’ to,” has long carried with it a stigma of being uneducated, poor — from the sticks. However, more people are beginning to consider the drawl as part of Okie heritage, something to be celebrated and preserved.
How do I lose my Southern accent?
Pronounce your vowels and consonants more clearly and quickly.
- “Clip” or shorten your vowels.
- You can try to speak with your mouth in more of a circular shape to achieve the effect of rounding out your vowels instead of flattening them.
- Place the accent on the second syllable of words such as cement and umbrella.
Is Arkansas a weird state?
In fact, it may well be the strangest state in the union. From weird events to weird places, here are twelve things that will definitely make you say “only in Arkansas.” All of these things mean, of course, that Arkansas is obviously the greatest state too, because strange and great go hand in hand.
What makes Arkansas unique?
Arkansas is known for its lakes, rivers, and hot springs, extreme weather and frequent storms, rice and poultry production, and the only active diamond mine in the United States.
Is Darling a Southern word?
“In the south, everyone/everything is a potential darling,” Vinson says. You can refer to friends or your partner as “darling,” or even a dog that you pass on the street. Everything’s a darling when you’re in the south.
Is Ain’t a Southern word?
The usage of ain’t in the southern United States is distinctive, however, in the continued usage of the word by well-educated, cultivated speakers. Ain’t is in common usage of educated Southerners.
Why do Southerners say fixin?
One reason we love “fixin’ to” is that it’s vague. It doesn’t have to mean “about to do something in the next 10 seconds.” Or even the next hour or next day. That gives the speaker a little time to prepare to do something.
How do Southerners say pretty?
These compliments and lighthearted digs have Southern flair aplenty.
- She’s as pretty as a peach.
- They’re as pretty as a pitcher. (
- He’s a tall drink of iced tea.
- They’re as happy as clams at high tide.
- She’s as smart as all get out.
- They’re finer than frogs’ hair split four ways.
- She’s got gumption.
What do Southerners call the bathroom?
powder room
“Commode” While the commode may sound like the fancy captain’s quarters on a cruise ship, it’s really just another word for the toilet. You’re more likely to hear a Southerner say this phrase than restroom or potty. However, a Southern belle may still call the bathroom the powder room.