When I was a teenager I was determined that I was going to be a big-time television news reporter when "I grew up." The only thing that didn't appeal to me about that job was the fact that I would most likely have to give up my Southern accent.
I love a true Southern accent. Watching actors try to nail one drives me nuts.
Nicole Kidman in Cold Mountain.
Kyra Sedgwick in The Closer.
Julia Roberts in Charlie Wilson's War.
Give me a break. The list goes on and on.
My four-year-old is super Southern. I find myself correcting her when she draws out her one syllable words into four syllables or when she says "laht" rather than light. I've got to stop doing that. It seems that even Southerners think their own accent makes them look stupid, thanks to other parts of the country that take that to be the truth. I think it's a part of culture we need to hold on to.
Luckily for me, I grew up to be a writer rather than an on-air reporter (I guess I'm a grown up now?), so my accent is still dripping with y'alls, fixing-tos, and lots of syllables and hopefully, through written word, I can still sound somewhat intelligent to others throughout the country...just maybe.
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4 comments:
My kids are getting worse and worse. On the way to work this morning, Lil Bit was counting (eighut, niun, teun ... )
oh lord! i keep commenting on your post today... can't help it! this is freakin hilaris! it KILLS me to watch an actor try their hardest at the accent. heres a funny story... as you know i am born and bred dripping southern and my sister is a speech teacher and has lost most of her accent- but then.... lol- her 3 yr old daughter has got the thickest of accents and its sooo funny! my sister has all but given up at this point!!
girl, don't let me drink a glass of wine or two. you've NEVER heard a more southern drawl.
i love my accent. if somebody else doesn't like it, well, i bet you can fill in the blanks, huh? :D
Right there with you, hon. Hollywood kills me with the goofed up accents. Ugh. Our accents are beautiful to hear, and they're OURS. KWIM? Plus, a good Southern accent is just sexy. :)
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