Tuesday Titter

I love the way people talk.

Since I am from Minnesota by way of Upper Michigan by way of Central Wisconsin, I have developed an accent that is apparent to everyone but me. These three areas of the Midwest are mere hours away from each other, yet there are subtle inflections that distinguish their vocabularies (so people tell me).

For instance, when I am chatting it up with someone from Wisconsin and I inadvertently through no fault of my own say something like:

“What is the big deal…eh?”

The Sconnie roars on the floor with laughter and proceeds to regale me with bad impersonations of The McKenzie Brothers.

Or if I am having an intellectual discussion with a Minnesotan (no that is not an oxymoron!) and say something like this:

“I put my bag near the bubbler.”

I am met with a blank stare. “What is a bubbler?” This is followed by a snicker then a nasal-induced, “baaaaag, you folks from Wisconsin talk so funny.”

Through my job I talk to people from all parts of the accent spectrum and get to hear delicious things like:

"Hi, I din wan choo to thank I was witahded o sunthin’"

However, my absolute favorite is a conversation I had with a grandmother… I could have listened to this woman all day. I cannot give the honey glazed flow of her voice justice here. She had a beautiful southern drawl that made me want to sip chamomile tea while she entertains me with stories using phrases like “lawsy mercy” and “bless her heart”.

"Shooga… you… need… to… slow… it…. down."

Once in awhile I have a little fun with it…

"I can tell you are from the “nort”. (this is said in mock-Canadian-accent) Are you in Canada?

To which I reply, “What are you talking “aboat”… eh? I am from Minn eeee soooo daah”

I also like the way people pronounce things… it makes me titter when Beaner says TORLET instead of toilet. Queenie likes to say NORTH REN, SUTH REN, WEST REN, EAST REN…gotta love them for that (also, don’t hate me) (also, I love you guys) (also, I think it is cute…really) (also, you two are beautiful and intelligent).

My grandparents used to say ZINK instead of sink and WARSHCLOTH instead of washcloth.



One thing I don’t know is… How do you really pronounce caramel?