Rave: St. Louis

[Tambourine Man]

Nelly doesn't have it.

But Goedeker does. I can't recall if the Slyman brothers had it.

[lukethedrifter]

Shannon is a representative of the STL dialect. right?

We probably heard enough David Freese -that is more of a West County dialect.

Kerry Robinson, Bernard Gilkey?

A black STL dialect is different. Nelly's Hot in Herre was riffing on it.

[jim]

Who is Nelly? That's the only part of that video I didn't get.

[Freed Roger]

my guess, that sound we identify is melding of immigrant dialects - German/Irish with a dose of Italian.

It's not as unique or cute as the WI-Minn accents, but agree with jim -it's not too abrasive.

[Freed Roger]

A black STL dialect is different. Nelly's Hot in Herre was riffing on it.

And this is where homeboys like me bemuse over how articulate Nelly is.

[jim]

St. Louis is a very neutral accent, in fact I heard a linguist once say that I70 is the dividing line between a northern and southern dialect.

[cards2468]

my guess, that sound we identify is melding of immigrant dialects - German/Irish with a dose of Italian.

It's not as unique or cute as the WI-Minn accents, but agree with jim -it's not too abrasive.

Oh man, WI-Minn accents drive me insane. I was seeing a girl for a bit who's from Wisconsin and she prided herself on not having the accent, but I could still hear traces of it even though she refused to believe me. (Also, I can't stand Chicago accents. When we visit Chicago, my mom some how magically picks it up again and it makes me want to stab pens in my ears)

In general, I don't like accents. I believe everybody should sound like they're on a network news channel.

[heyzeus]

[quote="jim"

This is so hilarious. YOU ALL SAY IT! You just don't hear it because that's part of your accent. Some stronger than others, but it's there in the majority of the people I meet from St. Louis. It's very noticeable and strong if you aren't used to it.[/quote]

Jim's correct. All. Have. It. Some more pronounced than others. I didn't realize the power and prevalence of the St. Louis accent until I'd lived outside of the Midwest for a few years, though.

When you live in St Louis, you often think "well, we don't have an accent - that's just Chicago and the Dakotas/Minnesotans!" But St. Louisans do have an accent; it's just much milder than those hosers.

[jim]

The only thing I'm disappointed in the video was no reference to KSHE. One of the most St. Louis-y things from the late 80's burned in my brain were mullet wearing burn out types driving rusted black Trans Am's with the bird painted on the hood and plastered with KSHE bumper stickers. They typically flew by you at about 105 mph on 270, windows open.

[JohnnyJay]

I was born and raised in South County, and I can tell you that my Mom definitely says "warsh", "Carn"...actually we were out to dinner over this weekend and she asked for a new "fark" and it made me laugh.

I don't hear it when I talk, but the last time I was in Arkansas, people there said I sounded like I was from Minnesota a little bit (which I thought was strange).