Queens Argues Over Disappearing Accent

While Queens residents are worried their specific, nasal dialect of classic New Yawk slang may be dying, some residents are arguing it never existed in the first place! Queens College linguistics professor Michael Newman told the Daily News, "People claim that there is a difference, but no one has been able to show it." He argues that it's the same as the regular New York accent, which is fast fading.

But Queensites, including notoriously nasal Fran Drescher, are adamant that their accent is distinct. It's "melodic and mellifluous, with just a hint of nasality," according to Drescher, and Astoria native Panayiota Pharos said the accent is only distinguishable to those who have it, who can pick up on the subtleties. "It's not so different from a generic New York accent," he said. "Words just take a little longer to come out." But that may just be borough pride. Dialect coach Amy Stoller said teaching someone a "Queens" accent is the same as teaching them a New York accent. "You think you have a Queens accent because you want to believe you have a Queens accent." Do you want to believe?

For a lowdown on the alleged differences in borough accents, check out this YouTube tutorial. And whether or not Queens is completely distinctive from Brooklyn, we can all agree that Lawn Guyland has the most annoying accent?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jaya Saxena in News on May 11, 2010 1:30 PM

Comments [rss]

Joe

Not sure what exactly distinguishes the Queens accent, but as a lifelong resident I can tell you that on several occasions I've correctly pinpointed someone I met as being from Queens based on their accent alone (and I've never falsely accused anyone who wasn't from Queens). It must be there.

And I don't really think many people want to believe they have a Queens accent, either...

napalm

Are you in some way insecure? You want people to stop being proud of their culture to keep from making you feel bad for your lack of? Maybe your previous generations were the ones in the cold caucus mountains were they domesticated with dogs.

If your bothered by pride and culture, I would suggest you return to the cold caucus mountain caves. Suicide is also an option

maatthias

I assume you meant "Caucasus" as in people that are Caucasian are from Caucasus. That too is a myth. Anyway I was trying to tell you that you have no culture but that might've not translated on the internets. Anyway flame over.

maatthias

I've heard many Brooklyn and Queens natives say they can tell the difference. But I wanna see some science.

ProcedureTurn

Manhattan keeps on making it

Brooklyn keeps on taking it

Bronx keeps creatin it

Queens keeps on fakin it

napalm

The NY accent in general is very alive and well.

I just find it comical that transplants adopt the "NYer" label as if its some sort of fashion trend, and dont even have the slightest bit of NY accent.

(Real NYer = NEWYAWK

(Transplants or wanabees = NEW YORRK

But we already knew that

maatthias

Dude get over yourself. By "old country" do you also celebrate the Vikings and North Africans (the ancestors of Irish and Italians)?

Tower18

Transplant bashing is so stupid. Every New Yorker has a transplant somewhere in their history. You can't be third-generation without someone being first-generation.

But you already knew that.

napalm

Oh Mr transplant listen to yourself.

That may be the case where you're from, but for most Irish and Italians like myself, 4th generation native NYers, take pride in our old country as well as being NY natives. The pride comes from the struggle and stride, grit and grind that you transplants no nothin about.

Quick one, were you even here through the 80s and 90s?.. Doubt it. Your just hopping the band wagon

But we already knew that

Tower18

By the way, like the other dude said, "get over yourself." Life ain't so hard for a 4th generation, pal. Your great-great-grandfather put in the work, just like mine.

This ain't the old country: We were all hustlin' immigrants at one point.

Tower18

Like I said, okay you're 4th generation, somewhere along the line, your Italian ancestors were likely ridiculed by my ancestors, as Italians were at one point considered "not white enough."

So hai, transplant. Go back to Italy.

See how unproductive that is?

Rocknrope

If God gets sore enough at you Edith, he could turn your jawbone into an ass.

newyawk

I grew up in Queens and didn't leave until I was 27. I made the big move to "the city," i.e. Manhattan. That was 20 years ago. My sister went to high school in Queens, my brother went to Brooklyn Tech, and I went to high school in Manhattan. Who has the biggest queens accent? My sister. Who has the strongest accent? My brother. I married a man from Chicago who can tell a queens accent from a brooklyn accent from a jersey accent. Amazing. Every time I'm with my relatives I KNOW the queens accent is alive and well.

Angelheaded Hipster

on the money

Tower18

A "hint of nasality?" Shit, that's the worst thing I've ever heard. How anyone who's ever heard someone talk like this could call someone from the Midwest "nasal" I have no idea.

maryjr

Queens accents are virtually identical to Long Island accents. Not surprisingly, most people eventually migrate from Queens to LI as their income levels increase.

Wza

This.

whitecastlerock

The accent is more along the lines of a Bangladeshi nasal twang

Splicer

There might be slight differences between accents but you can't say that Brooklyn and Queens accents are the same -- they are not. There is one thing that I've only ever heard from Queens natives and particularly women, the use of the part-sarcastic, "Yeah, huh?" when someone tells them a fact they couldn't care less about...like what I just said.

Yeah, huh?