Accents - Part One

I have an accent. We all do. We don't know it until we leave our community.

For the first 18 years of my life, my accent was not a problem. Then, I went to college.

The college was in Buffalo, New York (light blue). I was from Long Island, New York (light brown). These places are at opposite ends of New York state. Add to that, Long Island is considered a suburb of New York City - which has its own unique accent in English.

This is to give you an idea how far apart my hometown is from where I went to college. Worlds apart.

When I arrived in Buffalo I noticed quickly that people spoke differently. And they used different English words for common things (soda vs. pop). Most importantly, though, I realized my fellow students did NOT like people with Long Island accents.

My guess is that a large population of people from Long Island earned a negative reputation. That negative reputation was then transferred to EVERYONE from Long Island - including me.

It felt bad to be the subject of a stereotype. To be disliked because of where I came from.

You can relate, right?

So, I practiced diligently to curb (kill) my Long Island accent. I tried to slow down the way I speak so that I could control the sound of the letters. It was work, but I was able to do it.

Even now, as a confident adult who is proud of my Long Island origin, I hide my accent. But, should I?

All American English is not the same. Have you heard any of these accents?

What do you think? Should we try to hide our accents?

Leave me a comment about your accent and what is reveals about you to other people.