It seems to occur chiefly among the young, maybe more among young women. But I can remember when it was a reliable sign that the speaker had grown up in western Pennsylvania.
C'mon, George, as a western Pennsylvania native, I interrupt my housework - I must redd up the house of guests -- I can only wonder -- why would you say such a thing? And for all those people reading this, you'ns gonna tell me the answer?
It may not have reached McKeesport, but the rising inflection was standard in Altoona 40 and 50 years ago. I noticed it in a teacher I met in Washington at the end of the 1970s; he was indeed from western Pennsylvania. But now I think of it, an accountant I knew from Johnstown didn't have it--perhaps it didn't jump to the Ohio drainage.
It seems to occur chiefly among the young, maybe more among young women. But I can remember when it was a reliable sign that the speaker had grown up in western Pennsylvania.
ReplyDeleteC'mon, George, as a western Pennsylvania native, I interrupt my housework - I must redd up the house of guests -- I can only wonder -- why would you say such a thing? And for all those people reading this, you'ns gonna tell me the answer?
ReplyDeleteIt may not have reached McKeesport, but the rising inflection was standard in Altoona 40 and 50 years ago. I noticed it in a teacher I met in Washington at the end of the 1970s; he was indeed from western Pennsylvania. But now I think of it, an accountant I knew from Johnstown didn't have it--perhaps it didn't jump to the Ohio drainage.
ReplyDelete