A distinct brand of English spoken especially in the NYC metropolitan area, including the buroughs (excl. alot of Manhattan, full of transplants), Long Island, parts of upstate, and a great deal of New Jersey and Connecticut.
Those who portray it as low-class or ugly, forget that some of the finest speakers of the English language, including Robert Rinero and Christopher Walken, have thick New York accents.
Some features it is known for were previously common, but are now disappearing (such as pronouncing "girl" as "goil" which noone except very old men does anymore).
One of the most widespread features is pronouncing the "a" in words Kerry and carry seperately. Most Americans pronounce the short a in words like "carry", "Larry" "vary", and "marry" with an e, giving them the same vowel as "berry".
A slightly less common, but still widespread feature is an additional vowel not used in General American English, often written as "aww. In words like "caught", "long", "off, and sometimes even "dog" or "fog" are pronounced with the lips more rounded into an o-like a. Most Americans and Canadians as well just pronounce it with a long a, as in "father".
One feature that's still easy to find, but not necessarily the norm anymore, is r-dropping, as in other Northeastern US accents, pronouncing "here" and "there" "hee-uh" and "theh-uh". Many of those that don't drop the r at least soften it, or only drop it in some words while speaking quickly.
Those who portray it as low-class or ugly, forget that some of the finest speakers of the English language, including Robert Rinero and Christopher Walken, have thick New York accents.
Some features it is known for were previously common, but are now disappearing (such as pronouncing "girl" as "goil" which noone except very old men does anymore).
One of the most widespread features is pronouncing the "a" in words Kerry and carry seperately. Most Americans pronounce the short a in words like "carry", "Larry" "vary", and "marry" with an e, giving them the same vowel as "berry".
A slightly less common, but still widespread feature is an additional vowel not used in General American English, often written as "aww. In words like "caught", "long", "off, and sometimes even "dog" or "fog" are pronounced with the lips more rounded into an o-like a. Most Americans and Canadians as well just pronounce it with a long a, as in "father".
One feature that's still easy to find, but not necessarily the norm anymore, is r-dropping, as in other Northeastern US accents, pronouncing "here" and "there" "hee-uh" and "theh-uh". Many of those that don't drop the r at least soften it, or only drop it in some words while speaking quickly.
Some famous speakers of New York English include:
Marlon Brando
Joe Pesci
Donald Trump
Robert Dinero
Christopher Walken
Many many good MC's
Rudy Giuliani
Marlon Brando
Joe Pesci
Donald Trump
Robert Dinero
Christopher Walken
Many many good MC's
Rudy Giuliani
by d.c.r.n.y.c. October 30, 2009