Growing up in Massachusetts, I developed an accent.
Not too bad, but you could tell where I was from when I talked. I may have missed an “r” or two, drank from the “bubbler” (or bubblah) and put “jimmies” on my ice cream.
I would often “bang a uey” if I needed to make a u-turn. (Who am I kidding? I still do that.)
Once I went to college in upstate New York, the accent kind of disappeared. I was a public communications major and didn’t need the constant corrections to my language. I realized that the whole Boston accent wasn’t as cute outside of New England.
Today, it’s not obvious where I am from when you talk to me. (Unless I’m tired or angry. Then, all bets – and “r”s – are off.)
But there’s one word that always gets me, because it’s a word that New Englanders actually pronounce correctly. All of the letters.
So every time I read the following verse from Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (affiliate link) to my son, I end up confused and wondering why that one last line doesn’t rhyme. Every. Single. Time.
Skit, scat, scoodle-doot,
Flip, flop, flee.
Everybody running to the coconut tree.
Mamas and papas and uncles and aunts
Hug their little dears
Then dust their pants.
Aunt should not sound like ant, people. Seriously. There’s a “u” after the “a.” Do people outside of New England not see this?
It’s wicked annoying.
