Farms: Accent tag: NorthWEST New Jersey
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All because I want to be one of the cool kids! I decided to give this whole, "accent tag", thing a go. I am from northern New Jersey, specifically north WEST New Jersey, in the land of farms, cows, Quick Chek, and no reliable access to NJ provided public transportation ( durn you, NJ Transit! ). But hey, at least we have Hot Dog Johnny's and the REAL NJ State Fair / Sussex County Farm and Horse Show! That has to count for something, right? When people think northern New Jersey accent, they always tend to think of the stereotyped New York City accent ( to be honest, I have SEVERAL friends in New York City, and NONE of them have that stereotypical accent. They don't all sound like they're from, "Newsies", and we all do NOT sound like we're all from, "The Soprano's", or that god awful, "show", "The Jersey Shore". ). But really, there is no one real accent in northern NJ. Like everywhere else, it all depends on where in the state you live, your own personal preference of how you pronounce certain words, and how tired or emotional you are. And yes, I HAD to toss in Boonton and Secaucus, because there are two ways of pronouncing both towns here in NJ. Boonton is SUPPOSED to be pronounced, "Boon-TON", because, supposedly, a long while back, it was originally called Boon Town ( someone correct me on this, if I'm wrong ). But most people pronounce it, "Boo'n". The, "nto", is completely removed, and the last n just kind of melds into the Boo, and becomes, "Boo'n". As for Secaucus... it's supposed to be pronounced, "SEE-caw-cus", however most people in northwest NJ will pronounce it, "Seh-caw-cus". You will hear both pronunciations on the Morris / Essex NJ Transit train ride into and out of NYC. I was taught, "Seh-caw-cus", as a kidling, so that's what has stuck with me. I do alternate between my pronunciations of the word, "coupon". I say, "KOO-pon", and, "qew-pon", but I think I really only say, "qew-pon", when I'm tired. And yes, I do prefer to say some words using the British pronunciations. It drives my coworkers and customers bonkers when I say, "basil", at work ( BAH-zil ), but two seconds later, babble about a certain kind of, "CAW-fee", a customer likes ( that's when my Jersey shows. XP ). Oh, and yes, bennies and shoebies don't exist up in our section of NJ. We get the leaf peepers instead. And our exit numbers are based off of route 80, not the NJ Turnpike or the GSP. And sadly, we are losing most of our jughandles and Circles, due to people not paying attention when they drive. Navigating a circle and a jughandle is easy, IF you pay attention to what you're supposed to be paying attention to. Okay, I'm rambling now. Back to your regularly scheduled programming and cat videos!
Comments
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You have a very nice, pleasant voice! I have a good buddy, here in Eastern Ohio, who grew up in Morristown. His Sister, who lives in Lake Hopatcong, sounds very much like you. I grew up near Bawlamer, and lived near Wilkes Berry, PA before moving to Eastern Ohio, where the accent is Western PA, not the Great Lakes twang. To me, you sound like someone from Northeast PA east of Scranton, but I can hear Jersey when you say Cwawfee, Cawght, etc. You say Wooder like us Marylanders. In Northeast PA, people always thought I was from Philly or South Jersey when I said water.
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I live in the exact area you're describing and everyone talks like you. Until I was around 10, I was from much more east, so my accent is somewhat bastardized by your northwestern stuff!
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I'm from Morristown (though born in Monroe, NY), and you sound like home to me--we're not totally the stereotypical Jersey speakers, though there are New York like traits, and one or two Philly-like traits too (my wife teases me for how I say things like "town" which you share, and NYC does not. Secaucus and Boonton to me are like what you say, However, Wanaque is not "Wanna cue" to me but "Wanna key". Go figure.
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WANAQUE RING A BELL? DIS DAT AN DE UDDA TING you are a cutie t
Toity doity poiple boidies choipin an boipin on da coib, by da pahk on tioty toiyd an foist schreet..ask for translation.. -
Trenton is another one. If you're from Jersey it's more like Tren'en. If you're not, you are probably pronouncing that second t. And my dad calls it a clicker... I don't.