A couple of observations from watching all the storm coverage...

[pat]

It's "New Orlens," not "New Orlee-ans." [Edit: and NOT "New Orleens." No.] Unless you are from there, in which case you can call it "N'awlins."

People talk as though all Southern accents are the same. I don't think they are. Mississippi is different than Alabama which is different from Texas which is different from Georgia. Northern and rural Floridians have an accent which is markedly different from coasters. (Much of the people on the coast sound as if they're from Ohio, rather than the South.)(Mississippi and Tennessee seem to be similar; Georgia and Alabama likewise. Louisiana, especially the Cajun influenced area, is on an entirely different planet.) I am not as good at spotting the differences as I once was, but I think it still holds.

I am a sucker for all males with any variety of Southern accent, but especially with Mississippi accents. It's been nice to hear voices of men speaking with those gentle lovely tones that make me sort of go weak at the knees.

Comments

[wcg.livejournal.com]

Yes, the cadences of Mississippi are indeed lovely. I agree with you that accent changes across the South, sometimes in as little as 20 miles. (Not only accent, but also local preferences in barbeque and chili.)

It's become more difficult to track with all the migrations. But it is still there.

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

I think another regional conflict could occur over the chili issue. People disagree about barbecue, but tend to be more civil. : )