Do CHICAGOans have accents?

Answer 1

Of course they do. Most areas of the country have regional accents, only they don't notice it because they hear it all the time. Chicago's "traditional" accent is kinda nasally, with a lot of back-of-the-throat emphasis. Ask a long time Chicagoan to say the word "Chicago" and he'll most likely say "Cha-CAW-go". A perfect example is Mayor Daley, both the old Mayor Daley and the current Mayor Daley. Chicago is a "dem", "dese" and "dose" kinda place, as in "Hey Ma, I'm going with dem to see dese girls. Oh, and dose pants hanging on the clothes line are mine." Chicago's accent is mostly due to a mix of ethnicities like Polish, Irish and Italian, all of whom were a large part of the area in the beginning. And it's not just an accent but certain phrases that REAL Chicagoans use all the time, like "over by dere", as in, "I'm going over by dere to get a hot dog. Wanna come with?"

But yes, Chicagoans have accents, just like New Yorkers, Boston folks, Southerns, Minnesotans, etc. It's changing a little bit now because the city is being filled with young people who move here from all over the country for jobs, etc., and other ethnicities like Mexicans. Their accents are melding together to form something altogether different.

Answer 2

I'm originally from Southern Illinois and once had quite a twang, but lived in Central Illinois for 6 years and thought I'd lost it. When I first moved to Chicago people often asked me if I was from the South! After living in Chicago for 16 years I now have more of a Chicago accent.(Esp. according to people in Seattle where I currently reside) Mine isn't as pronounced as that of my friends who grew up in Chicago, tho, esp. ones from South or West side neighborhoods. What's cool is my friends are white, Hispanic, and Asian but they all have similar Chicago accents.

Answer 3

Technically yes, though like most Midwesterners they don't really think they do. That's because the Midwestern dialect is often considered "standard American"--it's the accent favored by most newscasters and others on radio and television.

Answer 4

To me they do and to them I do.... by the way, its not called an accent its called a dialect.

Accent is when you spoke a completely different language and had to learn a new one later in life.

Dialect is your original spoken language and it sounds different depending on the region you were raised in.

I know I'm knit picking here... but, my mom is a linguist and speaks
five languages.

If only I could be so blessed.

Answer 5

Well I'm from chicago, and I don't think we have accents, but I guess I hear it everyday, so I can't tell.

But as the person said before me, its not an accent. its a dialect.

Answer 6

Yes

Answer 7

British English, it rather is a 'foreign places accessory' to me, is the absolute coolest of something, different than in its maximum crude dialects (and that i could say the comparable and worse related to the crude dialects of my very own American accessory). The French women are magnificent nevertheless, confident. yet in addition, i've got got here upon the Dutch accessory to be exceedingly thrilling. and that i happen to love the German accessory myself. Heidi Klum... rrrraow.

Answer 8

Yes, I have been told that I have a strong Midwestern accent and then I gotta tell them: "Yes, buddy! I'm from Beautiful Chicago, EYE - ELLE!!"

(LoL) :o)

Answer 9

im from chicago and its called local color not accents its da way ppl talk from their cities

Answer 10

Everybody say we do but I dont know my ex from N.Y. said we had a certain dialect but so did he