1 definition by D5quared
A New York accent, or New York dialect, is one of the more recognizable American accents. It refers to the greater New York metropolitan area (including the 5 boroughs, Long Island, Westchester County, the lower Hudson Valley & surrounding parts of Connecticut & New Jersey). Upstate New Yorkers have their own accents which are entirely different from the stereotypical "New York" accent.
Individuals with a trained ear can differentiate between the accents of each of the boroughs (or the surrounding areas), though all are very similar. Generally, Manhattanites do not have a common accent, as many do not originate from the New York metropolitan area.
A slightly lesser percentage of Generation Y-ers speak with a full-blown New York accent, compared with those of prior generations. The accent of Generation Y-ers tends to be less severe than those of their elders, sometimes practically undetectable, with the exception of certain words.
Notable differences between Standard American English & New York dialect include:
1. Nonstandard pronunciation:
♦ "AW" sound is prolonged (talk/tawwk)
♦ Hard "G" sound (Long Island/Lawnguyland)
♦ Dropping final consonants (want/wan)
♦ Dropping "R" sounds (morning/mawning)
♦ Adding "R" sounds (idea/idear, soda/soder)
♦ Dropping "G" endings (calling/callin)
♦ Substituting "D", "T" for "TH" (those/doze, three/tree)
2. Nonstandard resonance, resulting in a heavy sound.
3. Generally fast rate of speech.
4. Hypernasality.
Individuals with a trained ear can differentiate between the accents of each of the boroughs (or the surrounding areas), though all are very similar. Generally, Manhattanites do not have a common accent, as many do not originate from the New York metropolitan area.
A slightly lesser percentage of Generation Y-ers speak with a full-blown New York accent, compared with those of prior generations. The accent of Generation Y-ers tends to be less severe than those of their elders, sometimes practically undetectable, with the exception of certain words.
Notable differences between Standard American English & New York dialect include:
1. Nonstandard pronunciation:
♦ "AW" sound is prolonged (talk/tawwk)
♦ Hard "G" sound (Long Island/Lawnguyland)
♦ Dropping final consonants (want/wan)
♦ Dropping "R" sounds (morning/mawning)
♦ Adding "R" sounds (idea/idear, soda/soder)
♦ Dropping "G" endings (calling/callin)
♦ Substituting "D", "T" for "TH" (those/doze, three/tree)
2. Nonstandard resonance, resulting in a heavy sound.
3. Generally fast rate of speech.
4. Hypernasality.
"I need to tawwk to my friend from Lawnguyland to axe what soder she wants to serve with the vawdka at the parwty tomawrow."
"Wow, that woman has quite the New York accent."
"Wow, that woman has quite the New York accent."
by D5quared February 28, 2010