local dialect in the US

[Kyoko_desu]

When I was chatting with my friend from Hokkaido about ramen,
I typed, 「お湯がちんちんになったら麺を入れて・・・」
(Put the noodle into the water when it gets boiling hot.)
Then he was like 「はぁ？？？　水がちんちんになるって・・・なんで突 然そんなエッチな言葉を言いだすの？？？」
(What? The water turns into a d*ck? Why all of a sudden you start talking naughty?)

Although I meant "boiling hot" by saying "chinchin" then, he took the word as a "d*ck", cuz the word generally means what he thought what it was throughout Japan, and usage of it with the meaning of "very hot" was locally limited.

We have some more words that are not used in other part of Japan, so let me put a small list of it.

*List of words that are only used in/around Nagoya City in Japan*
Nagoya dialect.....standard Japanese.....English translation
こっすい.....ずるい.....sly
とろくさい.....ばかばかしい.....stupid
ドベ.....最後.....the last
ほかる.....捨てる.....throw away
わや.....だいなし.....ruined
やりゃあ.....しなさい.....do (something)

Now here's my question...
Are there any words that are used only in a certain area in the US?
I know, say, the people in the southern and northern parts in the US speak in different accent(pronunciation).
Then what about vocabulary?

[nice gaijin]

hmm i think this has been discussed before somewhere on the boards. The use of soda/cola/coke/pop comes to mind. I think that accents in english are much more noticeable upon hearing them, as they are more distinctly marked by their pronunciation than the actual words used. There are slang words that are more often used in one area of the country (wicked, like, etc).

Of course, patterns in speech and patterns in written english are interesting in their own ways. For instance, I've noticed that teenagers of southeast asian descent tend to have distinctive means of communicating via written English. There are also other phenomena that parallel kogyarus', er, special way of messenging each other on their phones. But I fear I'm veering too far from the original topic.

[Glenn]

I know that "fag" in British English is the same as "butt" in the northeastern US and "cigarette" everywhere else I've been. I'd have to think for a while to come up with many more.

[nice gaijin]

oh yes, differences between the vocabularies of American English and British or Australian English are much more pronounced. I have a hard time following a conversation between Brits, especially when heavy slang is used.

I suppose if we're talking about dialects with their own vocabularies and stresses, we should include a discussion of Hawaiian Creole, or "Pidgin" English, the result of a variety of linguistic influences. Here's a lnk I found with some basic info: http://www.une.edu.au/langnet/hce.htm

[Glenn]

It's funny how close the sounds of HCE are to my English.

I actually heard "pilau" on the news during a weather report a few months ago, when there was the sewage backup due to all the rain.

I wish they had put "pono" on the list; it's just a nice word.

[godppgo]

That's a really funny conversation you had with your friend kyoko san! I adore moment like that! Looks like the Japanese words you listed are more like different ways of saying the same thing as opposed to just differences in pronouciation?

I haven't been in the US long enough to notice different English dialects (I've only been in the state of California). Therefore, I can't really offer any useful information on your asking. However, there's something interesting I would like to share with you. A few Americans have mentioned about my Canadian accent English (what?!). My hearing isn't sharp enough to distinguish the difference between Canadian and American English. I guess I used the word "eh" quite often at the end of some sentences and that exposed my true identity!

[nice gaijin]

While I was visiting Vancouver, a friend who lived there told me that the very pronounced "canadian accent" with all the "eh" and "aboot"s is considered a backhills accent, equivalent to our redneck. I forget the exact area they mentioned.

I do know what you're talking about though, the canadian accents I've run into are subtle, but they are noticeable. It's not the vocabulary though... it's more like certain syllables that I can pick up on. It's hard to quantify but I could probably identify those syllables, given a recording.

[Nicky]

One slang term that comes to mind is "Chichis" meaning Breasts. Although my area is not the only area it's used in, this word is one of the few slang terms that I've actually had to explain to people. I guess it's usage isn't as widespread as I originally thought.

Another term I find myself explaining to people:
Cooter = Vagina. :blush:



For boston terms go here - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_slang

[Glenn]

That reminded me: "schlep" -- to carry (I think it's used in western Pennsylvania and the midwest, not sure though)

"gumband" -- rubber band (used in Pittsburgh)

Then there are the Yiddish words that I think are mostly used by Jewish people (at least the only people I've known who used them were Jewish).

I was surprised to see things like "Mass Ave" on there, because those are just place names that were abbreviated. I wouldn't really put "the WC" as being dialectal for referring to White Castle (that's a town, by the way, not the burger joint). Maybe that's just me though.

That list brought me back a few years. It's funny, I was thinking about Filene's Basement not too long ago for some reason.

I still like "wicked pissa."

[Mike Cash]

One slang term that comes to mind is "Chichis" meaning Breasts. Although my area is not the only area it's used in, this word is one of the few slang terms that I've actually had to explain to people. I guess it's usage isn't as widespread as I originally thought.


It is spread throughout Japan, and means the same thing. Probably a false cognate.

[MeAndroo]

It seems to me that in the US, most slang terms aren't misunderstood, just that they're not used. In college I found myself adopting different vocabulary from friends born and raised in different areas (I still find myself using hella) just because I was exposed to it more. Dialects are often also "perverted" by slang coming from lifestyle choices and mass entertainment. Hip hop's use of ebonics especially has had a profound impact on the creation of new meanings for existing words across the entire country. Movies that use a specific phrase can also launch into the general vernacular. Terms like MILF or "you're so money" may have existed before the movies they were used in, but now they're no longer exlcusive.

[Kyoko_desu]

First of all, thank you so much for all your replies.

Now I understand that there are (not very much but some) difference in vocabulary between regions over there in the US.

Nice gaijin, san, I really enjoyed the link you posted. They even have a couple of Japanese originated words and their "shi-shi" is what my grandma used to say when she was letting me pee in a potty when I was little.

Godppgo san, the moment I noticed that the word "chinchin" had only one meaning for my friend, I was really embarrassed! はじゅかし〜！！！, hahaha!
As for the accents, I have some wave files of English reading recorded by the people from all over the US and the other countries. I listened to the one recorded by a Canadian woman to figure out if I could distinguish the difference you had mentioned. As I expected, I couldn't tell the Canadian accent but a guy from Georgia State's accent I listened to just now was very noticeable even for me.

Glenn san, now that you live in Hawaii (and still kinda new there, ), you might find more words that you've never heard before. If you find any, please inform me and oh yeah, you've gotta teach us what pono means. And..when you mentioned "fag", it reminded me of a very bad slang word "fag*ot", hahaha, oh well, excuse me!

Now about "chichis", as Mike Cash san pointed out, we do have a similar word, which is "chichi" meaning tits. I don't know where the word comes from but the kanji for it is "乳", and this is not a slang, but a standard word. I wonder if we (Japan and Boston) just happen to have similar words or if either of us has imported the word from the other. Nicky san, are there lots of Japanese immigrants there in Boston like in Hawaii????

Lastly, MeAndroo san, yes, a friend of mine who is black and is from California has taught me some ebonics. (He said he speaks somehow differently from the way white people do.) When I started this thread yestereday, I was only focusing the difference in location, but not in race, generation or gender.
But after reading your post, I'm wondering how much slang used in rap music white people in the US understand.

Maybe they understand most of them but just don't use them in daily life?

[Glenn]

"Pono" means something like "harmony" and "peace." I don't live in Hawai'i anymore, though.

[Elizabeth]

Now about "chichis", as Mike Cash san pointed out, we do have a similar word, which is "chichi" meaning tits. I don't know where the word comes from but the kanji for it is "乳", and this is not a slang, but a standard word. I wonder if we (Japan and Boston) just happen to have similar words or if either of us has imported the word from the other.
Oh, that is something interesting and a natural connection although I have only heard ちち in the context of milk or mother's milk. :? The first time even in a children's story without accompanying kanji it was very confusing thinking the baby lions were drinking their father instead. :p

[Kyoko_desu]

Awww, you are right, Elizabeth san!!!!
I was totally wrong when I said "chichi" generally has a meaning of "tits" in my last post. It means only "milk" in standard Japanese. "Chichi" with the meaning of "tits" is slang, for example.

あのおねえちゃん、いい乳してるな〜。　ニタニタ。。 。
"That chick's got awesome tits." grin grin....
As you see in the example sentence, this slang is a bit derogatory, well, at least I feel so, and it's used only by men.

By the way, Elizabeth san, do you think there are any English words or expressions which are used only by female in your country? A friend of mine said saying "Isn't she cuuuute?" when you see a cute baby sounds very effeminate、but another friend of mine said it doesn't. Maybe the first person meant the tone but not the words themselves?

P.S.
グレンさん、ponoの説明ありがとうございました〜！　 ほんと、ステキな言葉ですね、ponoって！
私、実はグレンさんがpono　は　nice word だよっておっしゃった時に、「もしかしてpornのことか な？pornがniceだなんて、スケベだな〜！」なんて思っ てました、あはは。失礼いたしました〜。ペコリ

[Glenn]

ハハハ、大丈夫ですよ、享子さん。最初から説明すれば よかったんですね。将来ではもっと気を付けるようにし ます。 :relief:

ところで「平和を守って」を意味する言葉の「malama pono」も素敵な言葉ですよね。

[Nicky]

I wonder if we (Japan and Boston) just happen to have similar words or if either of us has imported the word from the other. Nicky san, are there lots of Japanese immigrants there in Boston like in Hawaii????


I learned "chichi" from my childhood friend's mother who was hispanic, So I've always assumed it was of spanish descent. But there are a decent amount of immigrants from just about every country here, So there really isn't a way to tell where certain words have come. My friend's mom could have borrowed it from a co-worker or from a friend.

Glenn, I've never actually heard anyone from boston use "wicked pissa" in a conversation.
(I have heard tourists saying it though... :okashii: )
In my general area we still use wicked and occasionally pissa, but not "wicked pissa". Although I'm sure if you go down to southie you'll find someone who still uses it.

I can usually tell who is from Canada by the way they pronouce "house". Everything except "house" sounds the same to me.

[Glenn]

Glenn, I've never actually heard anyone from boston use "wicked pissa" in a conversation.

(I have heard tourists saying it though... :okashii: )

In my general area we still use wicked and occasionally pissa, but not "wicked pissa". Although I'm sure if you go down to southie you'll find someone who still uses it.

Really... Maybe my memory fails me, then. Well, it was on the wikipedia page. :p

On a side note, I like Newbury Comics' slogan "20 years of a wicked good time!" I suppose it's probably changed by now though; it's been four years since I've been in Boston.

[leonmarino]

This might be kinda off-topic, but what the heck.

In the northern part of Belgium, they speak Flemish, which is a strong dialect of the Dutch language. Pronounciations of the languages are very different and some homonyms have different meanings.. A famous example is the verb "poepen".

"Poepen" means "to ****" in Dutch, but in Flemish it means "to have sex". I have no idea when and why the meanings changed. This can be very amusing, like I experienced a few years ago.

A friend of mine was dating a Belgian girl, and one day I was at a party at his place, and his girlfriend was also there. At a certain moment my friend felt the urge to go to the toilet. Blunt as he is, he said "Ik moet poepen" (I need to take a ****), which his girlfriend interpreted as "I need to have sex". A friend of his replied, as a joke: "Oh do you want me to go with you?" and my friend said "sure", and they both left the room. The Belgian girl was left in amazement.

I'm terribly sorry this story is in the 下ネタ region, but I find it pretty interesting.

[nice gaijin]

that's a great example, leonmarino, and not at all off topic. I believe that limiting the discussion to the peculiarties of regional vocabularies in America would be to stifle the breadth of this topic.

[leonmarino]

I didn't realise the word sh!t would be censored!! （笑） Ah well, hope you get the message..

[Glenn]

Yeah, context is a big help. :p

[Nana007]

Well I am from New Orleans and we have a very peculiar dialect, Its called Yat speak. Yat isn't the same dialect as what Cajuns talk, although it shares some simularities. Most of it is mostly in our accent how we pronouce words.
But somethings we may say a bit different:
Been Havin; Been lookin
By My House, By Yo House: Instead of At my house or At your house
Also when we go somewhere we always say Down, It doesn't matter if we are going north but we always say. We/I'm going down wherever whever.
Also instead of using At we use For.
Instead of buying groceries we say Make Groceries.
If you have godparents you have a Marraine/Parraine.
Also instead of using Median or Island for the concrete or grass that seperates a road we say the Nuetral Ground
We call The Movies The Show.
The Stoop is the front or back porch.
Also instead of using North/South/East/West we do it by the landmarks so its Uptown, Downtown, Lakeside, Riverside.
The French Quarters is called either The City or The Quarters in New Orleans.
Also if we want to ask some one a favor you say "Can you catch (insert favor) for me "
Theres a lot more but thats all I can think of now.

Edit:
Soda is called Cold Drink don't ask why we still say that even if its hot.

[Glenn]

Nice! I'm pretty familiar with and use most of those, being from Donaldsonville (right up the river).

We don't say "marraine" for godmother but we do use "parraine" for godfather. We use "nanny" for godmother. That could be just my family, though.

Never heard "stoop," "neutral ground," or the "by" construction for "at someone's house."

Where exactly is "Fat City?" I was under the impression that it was The Quarter, but I'm not sure. By the way, we use "The Quarter" for the French Quarter. I've never heard it called "The City."

I've heard "make groceries" a lot, and people are frequently "fixin' to make groceries."

Most people I know use "down" for everywhere. "When are you going down to New York?" That always makes me laugh.

How about the Westbank?

"The Show" is a bit old-fashioned sounding to me. My grandfather used to run the show, but nowadays I believe everyone goes to the movies.

I've been busted on the "been havin'" thing by people from other parts of the country before.

I wonder if anybody else says "pass a good time."

Well, that's all I've got for now. I'm glad you posted that. :cool:

[Nana007]

Yea we use West Bank as well, and The Show is still used in New Orleans. The City for The French Quarter is farely new. We also us Fixin to as well.

As for as the Pass A Good Time never heard of it.

[Glenn]

I guess that's more of a cajun thing, then. So you don't know about "Fat City?"

Yeah, I hear "cold drink" too but it's mostly people in the ghetto who use it. Mostly everyone else says "coke" or "soft drink."

If you want to get really local, my family uses "ratatené" (although I've never seen it written, so I just came up with the spelling on my own) to refer to what I think everyone else calls "prune fingers." Other people around the area don't seem to have ever heard the word, though.

On a side note, I was thinking about the place names thing, and I changed my mind. I suppose they do qualify as being dialectal; it just struck me as not quite being in the same category for some reason when I first saw it.

[Glenn]

Oh yeah, my roommate from L.A. used to always say "faded" to mean "drunk." I can't tell you how many times I heard "you guys gonna go get faded tonight?"

I started using "crunked," but that has other applications too. It means any sort of loss of control over though, I guess you could say. So, for example, if you were to get hit really hard and not quite be all there, you could say that you "got crunked." I may be the only one who says that, though. :blush:

[nice gaijin]

yeah, I heard "faded" a lot back in high school, though I don't recall using it myself. Then again, there have always been a lot of slang terms for drunk. There's also the dictionary of slang, seen here (http://www.peevish.co.uk/slang/a.htm).

Although slang is a part of and plays into the idea of regional dialects, it would be a mistake to confuse the two. Perhaps a regional dialect (based on differences in vocabulary) is better defined by the longer-lasting words in common use.

[Glenn]

Although slang is a part of and plays into the idea of regional dialects, it would be a mistake to confuse the two. Perhaps a regional dialect (based on differences in vocabulary) is better defined by the longer-lasting words in common use.

It would be a mistake to confuse the two, but were we? If you're referring to "faded" being a fad word that isn't used anymore, then I'll clarify that I'm talking about the guy I was living with until last week, and he used that word the entire year we were living together. If not, then sorry I missed the point.

[nice gaijin]

I actually wasn't referring to anything yet said in this thread; just that it's important to distinguish the two. Slang can eventually come into common use but it does tend to come and go. Although I have heard "faded" being used since the late 90's, its use seems to have sharply tapered off in recent years, at least in these parts. Of course, there are people who use terms that have long since passed out of common use. This might not yet be the case for "faded," or "crunk," but I would hesitate to consider them a part of any dialect, just yet. But we never know.

[Glenn]

Alright, I gotcha now. Yeah, I agree with you.

[Gaijinian]

"Y'all" comes to mind...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_English_regional_differences
That site may come in handy...