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Surya Gayatri

(15,445 posts)
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 04:48 AM Apr 2015

What unusual phrases does YOUR region use? Interactive grammar map reveals bizarre language

differences across the U.S.

* In New York and California, there is a tendency for people to use the word 'so' in sentences to increase drama

* Phrases such as 'here's you a water bottle' are common in the south, but people in the north find it strange

* To find more examples of unusual grammar use, zoom in on the map at the link and click on a red location marker

Click on a location marker in the map at the link to hear common phrases for each state

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3047678/What-unusual-phrases-does-area-use-Interactive-grammar-map-reveals-bizarre-language-differences-US.html



From 'here's you a piece of pizza' to 'this glass needs washed', every state has its own set of phrases that can seem bizarre to the rest of the English-speaking world.

In New York, for instance, there's a tendency to use the word 'so' for drama, such as 'I'm so totally over this.'

Some people in San Jose think nothing of saying 'didn't nobody help him', while Florida residents can be heard using the phrase, 'I ain't never had no trouble with none of 'em.'

Now researchers at Yale University have revealed these patterns by documenting the subtle differences in sentence structure across the US.

Their interactive map allows you to click on a location and see common phrases for a region, as well as its source.

While the map focuses on the US, it also has a small amount of data for the UK, with sentences such as 'yer lugs needs washed' used in Scotland and 'Ne mon nule don hum no good', in Aylesbury.

'Unlike variation in phonology (often referred to as accent) and in the lexicon (different words), variation in grammatical systems within English has for the most part not been systematically investigated,' says Larry Horn, professor of linguistics and philosophy at Yale University.
19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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What unusual phrases does YOUR region use? Interactive grammar map reveals bizarre language (Original Post) Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 OP
+100 smirkymonkey Apr 2015 #1
Did you use the map? Pretty nifty... Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #2
"come with" is one I have even heard on tv It is a bit jarring to hear... hlthe2b Apr 2015 #3
"sugar off" cali Apr 2015 #4
You're in maple syrup country, aren't you? Never heard it myself out on the plains. Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #6
I love the Alabama - Ese! JustAnotherGen Apr 2015 #5
Glad you like it! Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #7
"Are-a" underpants Apr 2015 #8
My SIL is from VA, but have never heard her use that! Surya Gayatri Apr 2015 #9
"Yu-ins" IDemo Apr 2015 #10
How many Vuhginyuns does it take to change a lightbulb? underpants Apr 2015 #14
Amusing that the Western PA omission of "to be" Ms. Toad Apr 2015 #11
the towel need be washed. Just trying to play around KittyWampus Apr 2015 #16
No idea. Ms. Toad Apr 2015 #18
"Tell your Mah if you could come over my house" - Buffalo NY GreatGazoo Apr 2015 #12
I thought "in the doghouse" was a phrase used everywhere mainer Apr 2015 #13
it's the 'drama so' that they're talking about, not 'doghouse' muriel_volestrangler Apr 2015 #19
They don' list this one for South Jersey/Philadelphia tinymontgomery Apr 2015 #15
the traffic was bum-pa-da-bum-pa. KittyWampus Apr 2015 #17

hlthe2b

(102,276 posts)
3. "come with" is one I have even heard on tv It is a bit jarring to hear...
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 08:08 AM
Apr 2015

because it usually comes from those who are pretty careful with their grammar.


What does the twitter comment on the map even mean?

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
4. "sugar off"
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 08:20 AM
Apr 2015

as in "we'll see how things sugar off when we have all the facts"

It's really a making maple syrup term- which is called sugaring.

JustAnotherGen

(31,823 posts)
5. I love the Alabama - Ese!
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 08:23 AM
Apr 2015

Thanks! Was thinking of my dad this morning and missing him (he died 4 years ago) and so much of the many push pins on the map from that state are things this Yankee grew up hearing! Thanks!

underpants

(182,803 posts)
8. "Are-a"
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 09:12 AM
Apr 2015

Or are-uh

Old time Vuhginyuns (my stepfather included) put an "a" at the end of both the word "are" and the letter when spelling.

IDemo

(16,926 posts)
10. "Yu-ins"
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 09:34 AM
Apr 2015

That's one I remember from my brief time in VA. years ago, though I think it's fairly common throughout the South.

Also, Pronouncing "home" like "hewm", and "on" like "ohwahn".

underpants

(182,803 posts)
14. How many Vuhginyuns does it take to change a lightbulb?
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 10:18 AM
Apr 2015

Three

One to change it and two at remembuh how good the oooold one was

Ms. Toad

(34,072 posts)
11. Amusing that the Western PA omission of "to be"
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 09:56 AM
Apr 2015

is stuck in Idaho. . .

("Needs washed," instead of "needs to be washed&quot

Ms. Toad

(34,072 posts)
18. No idea.
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 11:00 AM
Apr 2015

I actually first heard it in the all-black high school in NE Ohio - and I figured it was an ethnic source. It was years later that I realized it was a Western PA thing that had apparently migrated. But earlier than Western PA, I have no clue.

It would be: the towel needs washed. The lock needs changed. The car needs fixed. Etc.

muriel_volestrangler

(101,316 posts)
19. it's the 'drama so' that they're talking about, not 'doghouse'
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 12:54 PM
Apr 2015

Still fairly common - they note it in California too. This is about ways of speaking rather than particular words;other examples are 'negative inversion ("wasn't nobody home&quot ', or the 'positive anymore ("Those are worthless anymore&quot '.

tinymontgomery

(2,584 posts)
15. They don' list this one for South Jersey/Philadelphia
Tue Apr 21, 2015, 10:42 AM
Apr 2015

They don' list this one for South Jersey/Philadelphia:

"youse guys". Yes, I'm from South Jersey.

What happened to NY, Cousin Vinny , "youts"



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