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American Dialect Quiz

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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
So, NYT put out this online quiz some years ago and it's actually a pretty fun party game to play, and see where everyone's dialect really comes from.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/upshot/dialect-quiz-map.html



I consistently get pinpointed exactly where I am from. It's surprisingly accurate. Santa Rosa, Stockton, and Sacramento are all equidistant to where I was born and raised, and the hot spot around Northern California and Northern Nevada makes a ton of sense, given that's where Ive spent most of my life.




It also shows you where you're least similar. Southerners, and Philadelphians, I talk nothing like you.





Take the quiz, and screenshot your dialect.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/upshot/dialect-quiz-map.html
Mar 9 2022 5:45AM
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TOAST.
Posts: 7265 - Karma: 33,275


Red area in PA checks out
Mar 9 2022 7:01AM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
TOAST.Red area in PA checks out


People in the California Central Valley sound like they're from PA anyway.
Mar 9 2022 7:32AM
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oldmanski
Posts: 3082 - Karma: 21,753

I guess home is where the heart is,lol.
Mar 9 2022 8:24AM
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corona
Posts: 12752 - Karma: 32,264
As someone with an Ottawa Valley dialect it doesn't seem to be able to put me in any single area, although the darkest red is upstate NY/Vermont which makes sense. Any Brits or Aussies here? Would be curious to see what the results are.

Most similar cities:
Honolulu
Newark (NJ)
Pembroke Pines (FL)

Mar 9 2022 9:08AM
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_IRRELEVANT_
Posts: 944 - Karma: 4,423
Mine doesn’t seem to have a very broad reach and being from nh it was pretty close
Mar 9 2022 10:28AM
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signtime
Posts: 2271 - Karma: 20,622
Western as all hell


Mar 9 2022 10:42AM
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signtime
Posts: 2271 - Karma: 20,622
I am a creature of the Continental Divide.

In nature,
Powerful as an eagle!
Graceful as a swan!

Surrounded by 4 walls,
A honking, shit-covered mess.





**This post was edited on Mar 9th 2022 at 10:52:10am
Mar 9 2022 10:49AM
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Abomber22
Posts: 3053 - Karma: 5,258



larilinesignI am a creature of the Continental Divide.

In nature,
Powerful as an eagle!
Graceful as a swan!

Surrounded by 4 walls,
A honking, shit-covered mess.





**This post was edited on Mar 9th 2022 at 10:52:10am
Mar 9 2022 10:55AM
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HypeBeast
Posts: 9774 - Karma: 72,202

Pretty accurate considering I'm from NE Ohio.
Mar 9 2022 11:04AM
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Kevinb5
Posts: 177 - Karma: 1,920


This makes total sense because I lived in Southern California/ Irvine until a couple years ago. I now live in the south and talk differently than everyone else here.
Mar 9 2022 11:15AM
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Jems
Posts: 7241 - Karma: 93,072


guessed pretty good for the mpls area
Mar 9 2022 11:22AM
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0sum
Posts: 185 - Karma: 1,625
coronaAs someone with an Ottawa Valley dialect it doesn't seem to be able to put me in any single area, although the darkest red is upstate NY/Vermont which makes sense. Any Brits or Aussies here? Would be curious to see what the results are.

Most similar cities:
Honolulu
Newark (NJ)
Pembroke Pines (FL)



British here just did it. Guess I got the most international places? Questions were interesting though loads of terms for things I just never thought of before. Rubbernecking, the area between pavement and road, the so many different terms for raining in the sun and weird names for roundabouts. Do people actually give the night before Halloween a name?


Mar 9 2022 11:34AM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
HypeBeast

Pretty accurate considering I'm from NE Ohio.


That Akron 'A'

'Can I get yew some Snyaks?'
Mar 9 2022 11:35AM
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IHatePedophiles
Posts: 697 - Karma: -6,903
EST STOCKTON FOO OXNARD REPRESENT 🎱🎭🎭📍
Mar 9 2022 11:38AM
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Sdot.
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 4,430
Well that’s very specific.
Mar 9 2022 11:38AM
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Rparr
Posts: 5352 - Karma: 42,173
DingoSeanThat Akron 'A'

'Can I get yew some Snyaks?'


Holy fuck I grew up like 20 min from akron and this just clicked for me for the first time


akron is a disgusting shithole btw
Mar 9 2022 11:43AM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6792 - Karma: 23,524

the rural west. I wonder what the smallest towns are that are on the list for most similar. I'm not surprised it picked Spokane and Santa Rosa over Portland or Seattle
Mar 9 2022 11:57AM
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switchlip2
Posts: 1903 - Karma: 23,259
I’ve been told I don’t talk like a skier
Mar 9 2022 12:11PM
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Sdot.
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 4,430
It’s worth noting I was being serious. I was born in Alaska, have lived in Anchorage most of my life, and my mom is from Napa, CA, so it makes sense. Nebraska is interesting, though.
Sdot.Well that’s very specific.
Mar 9 2022 12:15PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
Sdot.Well that’s very specific.


It nailed you on Anchorage.
Mar 9 2022 12:15PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
Did anyone else get the question where 'The Devil is Beating his Wife' is a legitimate answer for when the sun is out while it's raining?

Only in the fucking South would that be even remotely appropro...
Mar 9 2022 12:20PM
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6167 - Karma: 66,428
Denver and Aurora, it's got me pretty pinned 😂
Mar 9 2022 12:31PM
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CowboySkibop
Posts: 3502 - Karma: 27,970

never been to Arizona but all of my family are from Idaho and I lived in western CO for while so ig it balances out and makes sense
Mar 9 2022 12:33PM
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swherity
Posts: 248 - Karma: 1,561
it put me in california and nevada but i live in spokane washington although most of my life has been on the coast so id say its pretty solid
Mar 9 2022 12:36PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
SimonWherityit put me in california and nevada but i live in spokane washington although most of my life has been on the coast so id say its pretty solid


Take it again. If it gives you the 'large wild cat' question, answer 'cougar' and it will probably change you to Washington real quickly. It doesn't give you all the questions every time, there's at least a few dozen that it doesnt give in every test.
Mar 9 2022 12:56PM
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Casey
Posts: 7785 - Karma: 23,466
Not sure where SLC came from but otherwise they got me pinned down
Mar 9 2022 1:27PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
CaseyNot sure where SLC came from but otherwise they got me pinned down


My cousin from Olympia got this same thing. I think it's if you call a roly-poly a potato bug...
Mar 9 2022 1:35PM
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Squirtle
Posts: 287 - Karma: 1,540
Oh, you betcha!


From Duluth, MN
Mar 9 2022 1:39PM
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ModMommy
Posts: 10719 - Karma: 55,326

yeah i was born in Il, spent elementary school in WI, and then went to college in MT. Never lost my Midwest accent while living in NV and it has back stronger the longer I’ve been in MT. Apparently I sound like an Albertan these days.
Mar 9 2022 1:54PM
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dognuts
Posts: 2171 - Karma: 27,843
I am Canadian but apparently i talk like pretty much all of the us
Mar 9 2022 2:29PM
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ASSholebomber22
Posts: 6594 - Karma: 69,705
ReturnToMonkey
Denver and Aurora, it's got me pretty pinned 😂


Same, cept got some springs in there too idk how it's different lol
Mar 9 2022 2:35PM
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Sdot.
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 4,430
You mean millipedes?
DingoSeanMy cousin from Olympia got this same thing. I think it's if you call a roly-poly a potato bug...
Mar 9 2022 3:26PM
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PacificRimJob
Posts: 24704 - Karma: 29,687
Sdot.You mean millipedes?


Negative. Those are very different. This is what they were talking about.



Mar 9 2022 4:19PM
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Casey
Posts: 7785 - Karma: 23,466
DingoSeanNegative. Those are very different. This is what they were talking about.





Kids play with potato bugs, I think millipedes are poisonous 😂
Mar 9 2022 5:38PM
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ReturnToMonkey
Posts: 6167 - Karma: 66,428
Millipedes emit an irritating fluid which some people are allergic to, but it's not really poisonous. Those people get lasting rashes or blisters but it's uncommon. Basically just don't touch your face after handling one and wash your hands. Centipedes, on the other hand, have venomous bites that seem to be similar to mild-moderate spider bites
CaseyKids play with potato bugs, I think millipedes are poisonous 😂
Mar 9 2022 5:47PM
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Casey
Posts: 7785 - Karma: 23,466
ReturnToMonkeyMillipedes emit an irritating fluid which some people are allergic to, but it's not really poisonous. Those people get lasting rashes or blisters but it's uncommon. Basically just don't touch your face after handling one and wash your hands. Centipedes, on the other hand, have venomous bites that seem to be similar to mild-moderate spider bites


I thought one produced cyanide in their bites. Either way they are scary AF and I don’t mess around
Mar 9 2022 5:51PM
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Sdot.
Posts: 4100 - Karma: 4,430
I've never seen them up here, but I've definitely seen them in CA and NC. We have a ton of centipedes up here, which I absolutely hate.
DingoSeanNegative. Those are very different. This is what they were talking about.



Mar 9 2022 6:04PM
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WoFlowz
Posts: 7698 - Karma: 63,742


Dark red in the Midwest and western NY/Pa checks out
Mar 9 2022 6:27PM
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GrapeHunter
Posts: 2328 - Karma: 7,881
my map is different wtf did they just want my SSN?
Mar 9 2022 7:08PM
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Abomber22
Posts: 3053 - Karma: 5,258
I'm an hour south of Buffalo... I drive through Des Moines to hunt.
So ya.
Mar 9 2022 8:30PM
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r00kie
Posts: 5193 - Karma: 58,789
Had me absolutely pegged lol.
Mar 9 2022 10:56PM
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johnoble
Posts: 272 - Karma: 2,627
coronaAs someone with an Ottawa Valley dialect it doesn't seem to be able to put me in any single area, although the darkest red is upstate NY/Vermont which makes sense. Any Brits or Aussies here? Would be curious to see what the results are.

Most similar cities:
Honolulu
Newark (NJ)
Pembroke Pines (FL)



As a central ontarian(peterborough), i got put solidly in arizona as my most similar cities, though lots of red in the midwest too
Mar 10 2022 8:34AM
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Abomber22
Posts: 3053 - Karma: 5,258
Cuz it's English, not Canlish
johnobleAs a central ontarian(peterborough), i got put solidly in arizona as my most similar cities, though lots of red in the midwest too
Mar 10 2022 8:42AM
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corona
Posts: 12752 - Karma: 32,264
DingoSeanNegative. Those are very different. This is what they were talking about.





Those are woodlice or slaters to me.
Mar 10 2022 12:03PM
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asparagus
Posts: 2452 - Karma: 27,816
coronaAs someone with an Ottawa Valley dialect it doesn't seem to be able to put me in any single area, although the darkest red is upstate NY/Vermont which makes sense. Any Brits or Aussies here? Would be curious to see what the results are.

Most similar cities:
Honolulu
Newark (NJ)
Pembroke Pines (FL)



also from ottawa and got pembroke, miami and boston
Mar 10 2022 2:50PM
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maaattt
Posts: 2083 - Karma: 25,614


Lived in southeast Alaska, northern Nevada, and northern California in order of time spent


Dads family is from deep Missouri

**This post was edited on Mar 10th 2022 at 2:54:24pm
Mar 10 2022 2:53PM
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Slowbro
Posts: 3672 - Karma: 19,030
I'm Albertan, but apparently my dialect is 100% Florida?
Mar 10 2022 3:07PM
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BrandoComando
Posts: 1485 - Karma: 18,734
Lol I spent the first 17 years of my life in Sacramento and the last 7 in Reno. It checks out
Mar 10 2022 4:59PM
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