Are you from California?

Question

I was bored and was reading this on wikipedia and its the truest thing ever having lived in Southern CA all my life and then moving to Nor CA for 6 monhts and now moving back.

"Northern vs. Southern California
A rivalry has gradually developed between Northern and Southern California. It is not surprising, therefore, that the regions have developed a few lexical differences.

For example, in California's car-centered culture, nomenclature describing the state's extensive network of freeways takes on a special prominence. One commonly noted difference (and perennial shibboleth) between Northern California and Southern California English is the way in which an article may be appended to the label of a major freeway. While most native or longtime Southern Californians are likely to refer to U.S. Route 101 or Interstate 5, for example, as "the 101" and "the 5" [4], residents of most of Northern California are more likely to refer to those same roads as just "101" and "5" or "I-5"."

"Perhaps the most common difference in everyday speech is the wide usage of the word "hella" in Northern California, a slang word meaning, roughly, "very" or "many", derived from "a hell of" and considered to be indigenous to the San Francisco Bay Area.[5] Southern Californians frowned upon the usage of this word initially, but its disdain faded as it entered popular culture through the song "Hella Good" by the Southern California band No Doubt."

I almost went crazy when people would say I-5 or Highway 99. Its THE 5 and THE 99. GEEEZ. And don't even get me started on the "hella" and "hecka's". I almost went insane those six months.

Yeah sorry I'm kinda bitter about Nor CA now because it was a horrid 6 months and I had to let that all out :) Yeah I moved near Sacramento, amazingly boring place. I agree LA is nothing special. Oh yeah and another thing about Nor CA. Everyone refers to all of southern CA as "LA" there is no other city or county or anything it's all "LA". I would be like "I'm going back to orange county to visit friends for the weekend." They would be like "Oh that's hella cool, you're going down to LA?" That made me angry too.

Haha yeah people often forget there is a central CA, which doesn't suprise me in the least. Don't get me wrong the central coast is very nice (pismo, san luis obispo, etc.) but other than the coast, central CA is wasteland.

Answer 1

I used to live in Sacramento, and I couldn't wait to get out. The pizza delivery guys wouldn't even deliver to our neighborhood. I now have a profound hatred for the words 'hella', 'tight', and 'tha bomb'.

LA is worse than that. Anyone wanting to go there because they think it's glamorous? Don't. One image burned into my brain forever is seeing prostitutes and the homeless sleeping on the shoulders of the freeways.

I refuse to go back, although I wish I could revisit the Winchester House in San Jose.

By the way, not ALL of California is bad. Santa Cruz has hot guys for miles. Monterey is one of the most beautiful cities I've seen, and upstate, the Redwoods are spectacular.

Answer 2

I'm in central California (Santa Cruz County), and we do not follow either speech pattern with regard to highways. I live on Highway Nine, which I often call Highway 9 3/4 because I am a Harry Potter fan. Highway 17 is either called that or just "17," if you know the person is talking about highways, never with "I" or with "The." Sometimes it is called many other names, most of which would be replaced by asterisks here, especially when it turns into "the 17 parking lot" on summer Friday afternoons, as everyone in San Jose tries to get to Santa Cruz. Or sometimes "The Death Trap" when big rigs slip on the snow over the summit in wintertime.

California is large enough to have several distinct cultures. People always say "northern" and "southern," and forget that Central California is really a separate entity, too. To me, everything south of Daly City and north of San Luis Obispo is Central. And the state government seems to at least partly agree with me: the map in "California Courts Directory" for 2005, the most recent one I have, divides the map at San Luis O, and refers to the upper part as Northern/Central. But then they separate "Bay/Northern Coastal" from that (i.e., recognizing the difference between being on the coast and being inland).

Answer 3

No I'm from "NOO YAWK", NY is GREAT ! I LOVE IT ! there is NOTHING in the world like NYC ! FOR SURE !

I've never been to california :( I'd love to see it because I love Mustangs, Boats, and all the other really cool stuff they have there). My Mustang was built as a California style car (most parts inc. engine came from California), so it's much different than the other Mustangs around here, LOVE THAT COOL CALIFORNIA SPLASH paint job, "Way cool dudes" ! LOL

Oh yea, and the most beautiful women in the world are in California too, "Hands down" !

California Rescue me !

Answer 4

well i am from missouri, and you should hear some of the slang those hillbillies say...i better watch out some may actually come out of my thoughts in my head..but it is interesting that you went and read all that.. i know i would not want to live where all the gays live though.. i have heard a lot about california and i have never really been interested in going there...my son did go there to see the ocean and he asked his girlfriend to marry him out there...they talked like it was beautiful but the waves were strong,,,but it is strange that southern california and northern california is so different.....

Answer 5

I use to live in Long Beach but now I reside in Ohio. I'm going back next year to Los Angeles and I have alot of friends and family in Pasadena. So even though I'm not there right now. Califa`sz Tiene Mi Corazon Para Siempre.

Answer 6

Palm Springs, CA Baby!

Answer 7

quite a rant there. yes i'm from california, and yes i'm from the bay area, and yes i just say 101 or 880 or 5.

and to the person just below me, california is not the gay state. one may argue that san francisco is the gay city, however.

Answer 8

yes in the bay area Santa Clara n proud =D

Answer 9

I am from Fresno CA--central valley area.

Answer 10

i live in central cali! a half our away from the coast! but everyone around here considers it norcal! NorCal Baby!