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Is the Chicago accent real?
It’s called the Chicago accent, but not everyone born in Chicago has it. Chicago is actually home to two – maybe even three – major dialects: “Chicago” English, African American English, and (possibly) an emerging Latino dialect.
What accent is Chicago?
A Midwestern accent (which may refer to other dialectal accents as well), Chicago accent, or Great Lakes accent are all common names in the United States for the sound quality produced by speakers of this dialect.
Is the Chicago accent disappearing?
There’s long been anecdotal evidence that the Classic Chicago Accent, the traditional dialect of the city’s white ethnics, is in decline. Now, we have academic and scientific evidence that it’s on the way out—perhaps because of the attitudes you sometimes hear expressed in it.
How do Chicagoans say Chicago?
Personally, I say “chi-CAW-go,” and recommend that all Chicagoans do the same. It’s the authentic pronunciation — the one that’s only used here in Chicago. When you hear someone say “chi-CAW-go,” you know you’re talking to a real Chicawgoan.
Is Chicago accent similar to New York?
Even though Chicago and Rochester are 600 miles apart, the two cities share nearly identical speech patterns. Dat’s right: what we call a Chicago accent is, in fact, an Upstate New York accent, transplanted here in the 19th Century by the city’s earliest residents.
How did Chicago get their accent?
It’s mostly a white urban phenomenon; Labov theorizes that it originally comes from infrastructure: Although the vowel shift is often associated with a Chicago accent, some linguists believe it actually originated in the eastern United States in the late 1800s.
What do Chicagoans call sneakers?
CHICAGO — From “soda” to “pop” and “clicker” to “remote control,” Americans know that different regions of the country often have their own vocabulary for common objects. But when it comes to the “sneakers vs. tennis shoes” debate, Chicagoans are an outlier and prefer to say “gym shoes.” Along with… Cincinnati?!
What are things Chicagoans say?
The Chicago Accent Deconstructed
| Chicago Accent | Instead of… | …We Say |
|---|---|---|
| “th” becomes “d” | this, that, there, “the Bears” | dis, dat, dare, “da Bears” |
| short “o” becomes short “a” | hot dog, pop, mom | haht dahg, pahp, mahm |
| short “u” becomes “aww” | but, cut | bought, caught |
| “ctu” becomes “ch” | picture | pitcher |
Do Chicagoans say pop?
What about carbonated beverages, do you use “soda,” “pop,” or “Coke?” Now across the U.S. the answer is pretty mixed, but Chicago and most of northern Illinois, use “pop,” while the rest of the state say “soda.”