BS: The Maine Accent

Subject: RE: BS: The Maine Accent
From: Naemanson
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 02:01 AM

There are a few similarities in phrasing here in the Pacific islands. I once heard a Chamorro college professor tell a student to "...off the lights."

Also, nobody asks where you live. They ask where you "stay."

I have not yet heard anyone here say they were going "over his house" instead of "over to his house."

Subject: RE: BS: The Maine Accent
From: kendall
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 03:06 AM

Brett, I have a friend from the "County" who says that the expression "Outen the light" was common.

Subject: RE: BS: The Maine Accent
From: Becca72
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 09:32 AM

My coworker explained the "close the light" phrase - apparently the words for "close" and "shut off" are the same in French/Mainer. Either that or she was making an excuse for the mistake. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: The Maine Accent
From: GUEST,Stella
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 11:23 AM

Me an' Harvey don't got accents. We just talk like all th' other folks around here. It's th' folks from away who got accents. Some say I write like I talk, but you'd have t' read our blog t' decide on that f'r y'rself. harveyandstella.blogspot.com Happy Chris'mas, ev'rybody!

Subject: RE: BS: The Maine Accent
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 01:37 PM

YesahI'msomesick'ntiredafrigginwiththatsonofawhorenummathrasherratedown'tFodgragsafnoon.

Subject: RE: BS: The Maine Accent
From: gnu
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 01:56 PM

That doesn't fit in any translation program I have.

Subject: RE: BS: The Maine Accent
From: Becca72
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 01:59 PM

Gnu, ya had ta be there. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: The Maine Accent
From: kendall
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 03:14 PM

Years ago I was going into the men's room at a restaurant on the Mass. turnpike. I met two guys coming out, and that was what one of them said to the other. I understood every word. Now I'll translate at normal speed and proper spelling.

Yes sir, I'm some sick and tired of frigging with that son of a whore, and I'm going to thrash her right down to the Ford garage this after noon.

I'm sure you have guessed that he was having car trouble.

Subject: RE: BS: The Maine Accent
From: Becca72
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 04:07 PM

The proper response is, of course, "Ayuh".

Subject: RE: BS: The Maine Accent
From: Jeri
Date: 23 Dec 10 - 04:29 PM

I got most of it. Missed "numma" and "Fodgrag" as "grag" came out in my head as "gag" with an R. If you'd spelled it "graje", I might've got it.

Accents are funny things. My mom used to say I picked up a little bit of wherever I was. For a while it was Texas, and then the UK. I wasn't trying, and I couldn't hear it. Maybe it was more the language than the accent, but she swore it wasn't.

I took an economics course from a guy who was Greek by birth, and he had a pretty thick accent. Another adult student in my class complained that he couldn't understand most of what the teacher said. For the first 15 minutes or so, it was difficult to understand him. After that, I guess I got used to the was he spoke and he was perfectly clear to me. I guess the other student didn't have the same experience.

First time I heard Bob Marley, and he's great--thanks.

I don't know that I'd notice "close the light". I'd think the light was something with a shade, like some lanterns have.

Subject: RE: BS: The Maine Accent
From: Naemanson
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 04:07 AM

Our friend, Fred Gosbee of Castlebay, has recorded the Night Before Christmas Downeast Version. Check it out.

I'm pretty sure I remember it as "off the light" but then it has been a while since I lived there. By my estimation it was 46 years ago we moved away.

I used to work with a guy who went to grade school with Kendall. You needed a knife to cut his accent. He also worked as a volunteer EMT. I sometimes wonder whether or not his accent caused any trouble for the other first responders or the victims.

Subject: RE: BS: The Maine Accent
From: gnu
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 06:03 AM

Thanks Naemanson. That was excellent!

Subject: RE: BS: The Maine Accent
From: kendall
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 08:38 AM

Do you remember his name, Brett?

Subject: RE: BS: The Maine Accent
From: kendall
Date: 24 Dec 10 - 08:43 AM

Back in 1990 when I was preparing for my tour of pubs and clubs in Scotland, I was concerned that they might not be able to understand me. I needn't have worried. Not only did they understand every word and every subtle nuance, they got ahead of me!
The only problem I ran into was in Glasgow.

I did a performance at the National storytellers gathering in El Paso Texas, and some of them didn't get it. Well, I have always liked Scotland better than I like Texas.