This is interesting. Usually I take these types of quizzes and fall squarely into the NJ/NY & sometimes NE camp, but now that I think about it, those are focused on words used, not pronunciations. My initial reaction was to just answer “properly” the way I was taught phonetically back in first grade. Instead I said the words aloud, and even took the quiz twice with the same results because I was sure I had more of a New Jersey accent! I know I have a regional tone to my voice, because people from outside the area have told me so, but I guess it’s not all that strong. I do know that I very easily slip into the accents of the people around me. One summer I happened to work with a bunch of people who’d moved to NJ from Georgia, and by the end of August I was y’allin’ right along with them.
What American accent do you have?
Your Result: The Midland
“You have a Midland accent” is just another way of saying “you don’t have an accent.” You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
I've taken this before and I score 100% Southern. Shouldn't surprise anyone who's ever heard my Texas drawl.
Co-authored a book with a woman from Brooklyn once. You should hear us jabbering away together on the interview tapes. Never got her saying "y'all," but I found myself asking for another cup of "cah-fee" instead of "caw-fee."
LIsa Cahoy
That was fun...I had the "midland" accent. I am originally from IL and now live in CO. I am one of those people who say I don't have an accent!
annie
My Brooklyn-born husband just took it and he's definitely North East.
Glad you enjoyed the quiz too :-) I most definitely said everything out loud but with such a strong RI accent, I'm not surprised that I scored the way I did. I'm just impressed that the quiz makers really know their stuff. :-)
Rob Usdin
The dialect survey is much more thorough and interesting.
How Now Brown Cow?
This is interesting. Usually I take these types of quizzes and fall squarely into the NJ/NY & sometimes NE camp, but now that I think about it, those are focused on words used, not pronunciations. My initial reaction was to just answer “properly” the way I was taught phonetically back in first grade. Instead I said the words aloud, and even took the quiz twice with the same results because I was sure I had more of a New Jersey accent! I know I have a regional tone to my voice, because people from outside the area have told me so, but I guess it’s not all that strong. I do know that I very easily slip into the accents of the people around me. One summer I happened to work with a bunch of people who’d moved to NJ from Georgia, and by the end of August I was y’allin’ right along with them.
“You have a Midland accent” is just another way of saying “you don’t have an accent.” You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
Quiz Created on GoToQuiz
A good voice for TV & radio? How about podcasting
?
(found at twitter-friend Karen’s blog)