What American accent do you have? Deaf, of course, but that wasn’t an option and it didn’t stop me from completing the quiz. The site identified my accent as Midland:
You have a Midland accent is just another way of saying “you don’t have an accent.” You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
Based on the description of a Midland accent, it doesn’t surprise me. 11 years of speech therapy shows you how to pronounce things the dictionary way, not with a Texas accent. Got to admit that last line in the description of the Midland is funny.
I’ve had relatives claim I have a Texas accent because of the way I said certain things like “Dad” where I make the “a” last longer than normal. I’ve also been asked “What country are you from?” or “Are you French?” I don’t think a deaf accent resembles a French accent.
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Oh that was interesting. I went to the site and took the test myself. I, too, scored in a Midland accent with a more predominant Western speak. I live in CA so that makes sense. I wonder if other deaf people score in the midland accent range too. Many lip read, take speech classes and make efforts to be articulate. This might be why the score is in the midland (kinda-sorta) place.
~ LaRonda
That was fun, wow! I came out as a Westerner, which is correct. I have “no accent” unless I am a California Surfer!
Which reminds me of a deaf friend who was here in Portland (Oregon) for a wedding. He is from the East Coast, has good speech, and is not afraid to use it. Here in Oregon he tried to order some clam chowder and he finally had to write it down! HIS pronounciation of clam chowder ends with a “duh”, while we pronounce our “r”s.
Interesting subject!
Thanks, Lantana
Well, I was born and raised in Texas. I’m oral and didn’t learn sign until I was 15. I got rated Midland in that test like I expected. However, I went to Gallaudet briefly and was told to my face several different times by different deaf people that I have a Texan accent. I really got a kick out of that.
Thanks for bringing a smile to my face today!
I got “Inland North” accent, which is the Midwest. Yet, I grew up in southern Ohio. In theory, I should have had midland accent. Thinking about it, my dad speaks more like the midland speech because he grew up in southern Ohio. However, my mother grew up in upstate New York. I guess, with speech therapy and me talking with mom, I have “Inland North” speech. Hmm… interesting, huh?
This is what they said: You may think you speak “Standard English straight out of the dictionary” but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like “Are you from Wisconsin?” or “Are you from Chicago?” Chances are you call carbonated drinks “pop.”
Oh I don’t get these annoying questions, of course. I’m deaf.
Hmm, well, for that matter, I have been told over and over again that OFTEN hearing children of deaf adults wind up with a “deaf tone” to their voice. I know for a fact that this is true.
So what kind of an “accent” is that? ‘Just curious.
Lantana, Lantana’s Latitude