Author Topic: Dipthonging the "a" in "password" (Read 2094 times)

Noemon · « **on:** December 01, 2005, 07:55:08 AM »

One of my users just came by my desk to reset her password. She pronounced "password" as "peeyasword". I didn't notice any other ways in which her accent differed from my own. Jon Boy, do you know of a distribution map that would show the areas in which that dipthong is used? I could just ask her where she's from next time I see her, but I'm curious *now*.

Now I have the (from my perspective) funky pronunciation of "password" running through my head.

sarcasticmuppet · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2005, 08:52:15 AM »

Is she from the south? I have a very slight accent that manifests itself at odd times, even though my speech habits are firmly rooted in the California.

Noemon · « **Reply #2 on:** December 01, 2005, 09:17:22 AM »

If she is, her accent is almost totally gone. I'll ask her next time I see her.

Jonathon · « **Reply #3 on:** December 01, 2005, 09:42:57 AM »

Unfortunately, I don't know of the distribution for that diphthong alone. I believe both the Northern Cities Shift and the Southern Shift typically feature diphthongization of the /æ/ vowel (though it's more stereotypical of the Northern Shift), and I've even heard it from my sister-in-law, who is from Colorado. That doesn't really narrow it down much.

Brinestone · « **Reply #4 on:** December 01, 2005, 09:58:37 AM »

I think Kenneren does it to be funny/cute. I don't think it's a natural feature of her speech, but I may be wrong.

Mr. Anderson · « **Reply #5 on:** December 01, 2005, 11:06:01 AM »

"Dipthonging" sounds dirty.

sarcasticmuppet · « **Reply #6 on:** December 01, 2005, 11:31:07 AM »

I oughta dipthong you...

Ela · « **Reply #7 on:** December 01, 2005, 11:32:31 AM »

Jonathon · « **Reply #8 on:** December 01, 2005, 02:02:45 PM »

Quote

I think Kenneren does it to be funny/cute.

I hope the irony here was intentional.

She talks like that quite frequently, though—especially around family.

Brinestone · « **Reply #9 on:** December 01, 2005, 02:04:42 PM »

Well, kinda. I assume you're talking about my cutesy version of her name. I didn't want to use her real name online, but I wanted you to know who I was talking about, so I used her childhood nickname.

And yes, she tends to use that voice when she's around close friends and family. When she's less sure of herself, she defaults to her less cutesy voice. It's a weird Kenneren thing. I suppose I do it too, to some extent.

Jonathon · « **Reply #10 on:** December 01, 2005, 02:12:08 PM »

Yeah, you do, though not nearly as much. Your mom does it too.

pooka · « **Reply #11 on:** December 01, 2005, 09:34:41 PM »

I do it with candy. Not sure about password.