Re: [Harp-L] RE: Authentic Pronunciation

["Splash!" <celtiac@xxxxxxxxx>]

I tend to be chameleon without realizing it.  When I go back to my native 
Pgh., I get my accent back.  The longer I stay before coming back to So. 
Fla. the heavier it gets and the longer it takes to lose (most of) it.

I've been a southerner by choice for 5 decades and when hanging with my 
hunting buddies, the southerner in my voice gets stronger.  It's not 
something that I am even aware of till I get back to civilization.

It's not fake.  It's just me.

Splash!
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Kumpe" <bkumpe@xxxxxxx>
To: <harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 11:29 AM
Subject: [Harp-L] RE: Authentic Pronunciation


> What I think the original poster was alluding to was fake accents.  As a
> proud southerner who enjoys the sound of the various dialects, when 
> singers,
> actors or anyone else tries to fake a southern accent it sets my teeth on
> edge.  I am particularly annoyed by people who adopt a fake southern, 
> black
> or hip hop accent when they are trying to be tough.  I will fully admit 
> that
> over educated, closet hillbilly/river bottom types like myself slow down,
> lose our city accent and revert to cornpone speech when we are angry.  And
> yes, when that happens, it is a good sign that all hell is about to break
> loose.  Take my word for it, when a suit with a carefully manicured 
> college
> dialect suddenly turns grits, watch out.  Same for any other ethnic group.
> But, when somebody else tries to fake it, it just sounds pretentious. I
> think that applies to music as well.
>
> We have an old journeyman country musician here in town named Robert 
> Smith.
> Guitar player and singer.  Knows everybody.  Great guy.  Played around 
> town
> forever.  One night an enthusiastic young white kid was blathering on 
> about
> his multi cultural influences when Robert told him gently, "Kid why don't
> you just try being a good you for a change?"  Good advice.
>
> Bill Kumpe
> Tulsa, OK