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It's rather its own accent in KY. I don't hear it as the same as other southern state accents.
I agree totally, it is not exactly southern, I think because of the mountain accent. I have read that this accent is due to Scottish influence as well as some of the phrases.
I agree totally, it is not exactly southern, I think because of the mountain accent. I have read that this accent is due to Scottish influence as well as some of the phrases.
I remember reading that somewhere also that our accent has scottish roots. Wish I could remember where I found that..I am going to hunt for it, because it is very interesting.
Location: Just transplanted to FL from the N GA mountains
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I want to thank you all for this thread! I wasn't born in KY, but when I married into a Kentucky family (Bourbon and Nicholas Counties) I was expected to learn how to speak Kentuckian (is that a word?). Yes'sir, Yes'maam, ya'all, and I had to learn how to make Hot Browns, cornbread and transparent pie. But when it comes down to KY accents, don't cha have to pick a color first? Cardinal Red or KY Blue?
i was born and raised in nc,but family were kentuckians. i have a strong accent and dialect. i have a lot of problems with both when i am in diff. places as i move a lot. i will not change my speech,but i do try to make it easy for others to understand me. even in small areas,you will find more than one type of speech,no matter where you go. most will try to be helpful if you cannot understand what one means. remember,some southerns will say come on,come home with us, but it will probably mean nice meeting you,not actually come with them. i met a woman who said she did go,and everyone was embarassed!
i dont understand where people are getting that kyians and other people say come on come home and sit a while to a complete stranger because that is sompthing i have never heard unless you know the people. and i wanted to comment on the rest of the stuff that said louiville and lexington are southern sounding but when i go there i really cant hear it at all but right about lex. and louiv. is where the state divides its people and what i mean is right around that area is where western and eastern ky are 2 diff world .people from both side make it clear as glass which side they are from ...and they are very diff. but anyway just wanted to comment on those things oh by the way im from Louisa ky in Lawrence co. about 200 ft. from the Eastern State line
As you move across the state from east to west, it changes a lot, too. Western Kentucky is more like Missouri, and Eastern KY has that Appalachian sound (a unique accent in its own right).
I remember my first visit to Eastern KY, Prestonsburg I think it was. Hubby asked for directions and was told to Just "tahk" a "rye aight" at the "lye aight" and ya'll "fye and" it just "day andy."
My "Pops" is from Kentucky. A wonderful man like a dad to me.
Hello, R_fluty41230. My dad's family settled in Louisa after the War, from Virginia, then my great-great-grandfather high-tailed it across the river to WV in 1886 because of an unfortunate incident. I still have distant relatives in Louisa, if you meet anyone named Arrington there say hey for me. As far as what people call "country" or "mountain" accents, they are Southern too, there is no reason to exclude them. Linguists certainly don't.
serate i have NEVER heard anyone in kentucky speak like that. Was that at a comprehensive care center you were asking for directions? you people are flippin hillarious that move from other states to Kentucky and then embelish our accents or ways of life. weirdos.
serate i have NEVER heard anyone in kentucky speak like that. Was that at a comprehensive care center you were asking for directions? you people are flippin hillarious that move from other states to Kentucky and then embelish our accents or ways of life. weirdos.
Nope we ate at Reno's and asked the manager for directions to Auxier.
I wasn't embelishing anything. I was trying to show how the manager drew out "right" and "light" into 2 syllables. And how he didn't use the long "i" sound. Which is how the manager pronounced the words. Which my Pops does, who lives in the area. I love Kentucky. Tho you are the first to have ever called me a weirdo. Maybe if I ran into more like you I wouldn't like Kentucky as much. But the good overrides you so we'll be back as soon as we can, and as soon as we can move back we'll be back to stay.
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