Buzz
Identifying a New York accent involves noting the speaker's treatment of vowels and consonants, their intonation and delivery, and their vocabulary choices. Remember, just because New Yorkers have a different dialect and delivery than residents of other regions, it doesn’t mean they’re trying to be rude. Their communication style of asking a lot of questions is a way of indicating interest, and being talkative may be their method of showing friendliness.
Steps
Observing Treatment of Vowels and Consonants
Listen for the addition of the “w” sound. New Yorkers may add a “w” to vowels. This is often done to words containing an “ah” sound. For instance, “coffee” might be pronounced “cawfee.”
- For example, “on” would be pronounced “awn.”
Take note of prolonged vowels. New Yorkers frequently modify vowel pronunciation by breaking them into multiple syllables. For instance, “talk” transforms into “taw-uhk.”
- Especially among Brooklyn natives, there's a tendency to elongate or “chew on” vowels.
Watch for emphasis on initial syllables. New Yorkers may accentuate the first syllable while other accents might emphasize the second. For instance, “pecan” is said as “PEEcan.”
Notice alterations to the letter “r.” Individuals with New York accents might insert or omit the letter “r” unpredictably. For example, “I saw it” might turn into “I sawr it.” “Doctor” might be pronounced “doctah.”
Observe the substitution of the “th” sound. New Yorkers may replace “th” with “d.” For example, “these” becomes “dees.” Another alteration is changing “th” to “t,” such as saying “tree” instead of “three.”
Identifying Regional Dialect
Pay attention to New York slang. New York slang is utilized for various items, such as sandwiches or local stores. It’s also employed to substitute common expressions.
- A submarine sandwich might be referred to as a “hero.” A local store might be termed a “bodega.”
- “Thank you” might be exchanged with “Good looks,” a condensed version of the slang “Good looking out.”
- “Gotchu” serves as slang for “you’re welcome,” akin to “I’ve got your back” or “I’ve got you covered.”
- New Yorkers might say “on a line” instead of “in line.” They may also use “around the way” instead of “nearby.”
Notice how New Yorkers refer to local landmarks. New Yorkers often employ their own terms for these landmarks. This serves as a distinguishing feature of whether someone is from New York or not.
- Long Island City is commonly referred to as L-I-C.
- The Museum of Modern Art is colloquially known as “MOMA,” pronounced similar to the “om” sound in “Sonoma.”
- The John F. Kennedy International Airport is commonly referred to as JFK.
- The observation area atop the Rockefeller Center is called “Top of the Rock.”
Observe the New York naming conventions for geographical areas. Streets in New York possess official names alongside nicknames used by locals. Additionally, certain parts of the city are identified by specific nicknames.
- 6th Avenue is often referred to as “Avenue of the Americas.”
- Interstate 278 is commonly known as “B.Q.E.,” short for the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.
- ”The Willie B” is slang for the Williamsburg Bridge.
- ”Upstate” denotes areas north of Westchester County. “Downtown” lies south of Manhattan’s Canal Street.
Recognizing Speaking Patterns
Look for a brisk yet energetic speaking style. When engaging with a New Yorker, they might pose rapid, direct questions with a high or low pitch. This demeanor may be perceived as assertive or intrusive by some.
- For instance, a New Yorker might inquire, “What’s your name? Where ya from? Whaddya do for a living? Yeah, how’s that?”
- Individuals from Brooklyn often exhibit a more relaxed speech pattern compared to those from the Bronx, who typically come across as more robust.
Assess the demeanor. New Yorkers often exhibit a tone that can be either highly charged or laid-back. Individuals from Queens might be perceived as more nasal or whiny. Manhattan residents often adopt a brisk, businesslike tone. Italian New Yorkers may employ fluctuating intonations.
Notice if the individual is chatty. Take note of whether they fill gaps in conversation with dialogue. New Yorkers may engage in small talk with strangers, often expressing general grievances.
- For instance, a New Yorker might vent about subway schedules or trash pickup to anyone nearby in public.
- New Yorkers may tend to interrupt or talk over others.
