Why do the Mannings sound like they have a Different accent ?? (5 Viewers)

[estrabd]

Oh, I thought of something else. You good folks who know the area better than I might want to help me out here.

My cousin and I talked about her various dialects a great deal.

I don't know if she was pulling my leg or what, but she chalked it up to the Catholic Church's schools and nuns.

I'd noticed that when she spoke to her friends at the parties, they sounded to my ears like some of the guys I'd known from New York in the Marines.

My cousin smiled. The nuns at her school had been transferred from Brooklyn when the neighborhood there had changed and they wanted nuns who could speak Spanish.

So, given their age, the Brooklyn nuns were moved to Louisiana's warmer climate. The school kids picked up bits and pieces and portions of their accents from the nuns who taught them.

Now I have absolutely no idea if that's true or not, but if I learned one thing in my time in and around New Orleans, it's that you should never discount the influence of the Mother Church.

That is utter BS. New Orleans was founded in 1718, and the Church has been there the whole time. I am not sure how the time line with Brooklyn's development (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn) coincides with NO's, but the notion that nuns affected the accent of an entire city is plainly ridiculous.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yat_(New_Orleans)

 

[RJ in Lafayette]

Pete, I am sorry you found the post offensive. It was not my intent to offend or even be provocative. If my wording offended you, then my post may have been carelessly worded, and I apologize.

Let me make a few more comments.

First, those who know me on the board, particularly on the EE forum, know that I write often about politics and culture, politics in the sense that people are tribal and often vote their tribal identities, and culture in the sense that ideas and attitudes shape political and economic systems. I read 35 years ago Kevin Phillips' The Emerging Republican Majority and found fascinating his breakdown of ethnic and regional loyalties. And I am a huge fan of the recent books by Lawrence Harrison on culture. I mention this, as I mentioned in the original post my bias and limitations based on life experience, only to underscore that I was not playing provocateur in the first post and to offer some idea about how I approached the accent issue.

Second, it was not my intent to say that people from Uptown are not authentic Orleanians. They clearly are. Uptown is doubtless part of the metropolitan area's cultural mosaic, but is a highly unique part that is different from other parts or areas of the city (that is, the metropolitan area). And Uptown is more than a geographical area. There obviously is much diversity in the area west of the CBD. I am using the term "Uptown" to describe a sense of geography and class, and to a lesser extent a mindset, that are very distinctive.

Third, there are many accents in New Orleans, but the Manning boys don't quite have any of the city's dialects. If you heard Eli or Peyton on TV and didn't know who they were, I suspect that few on this board would guess that they are from New Orleans and that a good number would guess that are certainly not from New Orleans.

Fourth, with some of us, there is a certain ambivalence about the Manning sons. I tried to articulate, obviously with difficulty, some of the reasons for the ambivalence. Also, it seems--and if I am wrong, somebody please correct me--that certainly for Peyton New Orleans and Louisiana are a place to return to see family or a parade, but that he identifies more with Tennessee than Louisiana. Again, there seems some displeasure over my comments, but try explaining the ambivalence.

Fifth, I in no way was trying to suggest that one regional culture was superior to another and certainly did not intend to say that there is something inferior about a Southern accent.

 

[inetnawlins]

Yeah, I agree with ClubLevel Pete. Archie and his family go to the same church I do Uptown and I promise you they are a part of this community and have been for years. Uptown is not only New Orleans, it is a vital part of New Orleans.

I grew up on the West Bank in Algiers and had an accent from that area, but my parents were from Oklahoma so the accent wasn't as pronounced. After working and living in other places for 15 years, I don't have what you might call a typical New Orleans accent although it pops out from time to time.

We should all be proud of Peyton, as he in some way, is representing New Orleans in the Superbowl this year. Let's not find reasons to pick at the Mannings. They are great people.

 

[DadsDream]

That is utter BS. New Orleans was founded in 1718, and the Church has been there the whole time. I am not sure how the time line with Brooklyn's development (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn) coincides with NO's, but the notion that nuns affected the accent of an entire city is plainly ridiculous.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yat_(New_Orleans)

LOL. Yeah, she was probably pulling my leg. Besides, she lived in Metairie, which, as we all know, ain't really New Orleans proper.

Formerly an Irish enclave, Brooklyn became gradually became increasingly Hispanic in the 1960s-70s.

 

[kooldak]

Some folks here are fairly new to the forum and are not familiar with RJ's posts. I think some are also misinterpreting his intent and his point.

What I saw in his post was an examination of how there is some cultural diversity in the City that is divided regionally. How any resident of the area could not admit that people of various parts of the city have unique perspectives of other parts of the city (some good some bad) is beyond me. It is true. It is there. It is New Orleans.

This division of community based on cultural diversity is common everywhere. I grew up in St. Charles Parish. Spent my entire youth and adult life there. But some people did not consider me a "true" resident of the area because my parents did not come from that Parish. Even within St. Charles parish there was divided loyalties. West Bank v East bank. Luling v Hahnville, Des Allemands v Bayou Gauche, etc. Here where I now live there are also divisions and this is a very small community. It is human nature. It is that aspect of human nature as it applied to the Mannings and Uptown that RJ was talking about.

As to the Mannings - I am a huge Manning family fan. But I know many native New Orleanians who are not. Many for the exact reasons that RJ is attempting to describe.

I won't put words in RJ's mouth, but I know his post was not intended as some are taking it. I've never read an RJ post that was mean spirited - but all of them are intelligent and well thought out.

JMO.

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Let's not find reasons to pick at the Mannings. They are great people.

- The only problem I have with the Mannings is the shenanigans that Archie pulled when Eli was drafted by San Diego- it was bad for the league, bad for the game of football and and extremely manipulative, IMO. Anyway, I'd be willing to bet that Ei wishes he were in SD now, with a better team and less media glare. Be that as it may, I still like Archie- he was like Bear Bryant, Elvis and Jesus Christ all rolled into one for me growing up in NOLA. And I think Peyton is a great representative and ambassador for the city of New Orleans; I will be rooting for him tomorrow.

 

[DadsDream]

Personally, I've got an autographed 8X12 of Archie from his senior year at Ole Miss. My dad worked for the Natchez newspaper and brought it back from the pressbox at the Ole Miss vs MS State game.

So, yeah, I've always taken an interest in the Manning family. Archie was my high school hero. Yes, I'm getting old!

 

[RJ in Lafayette]

Inetnawlins, I don't disagree with a word you have written. But there is, for a certain number of people, an ambivalence or less than full throated rooting for Peyton and Eli, especially I think Peyton. If I am right, explain the reasons. Now it may be simply a matter of small people and envy, but I think it goes beyond that.

I like them as players. I admire them as human beings. But I don't really identify, at least not strongly, with them, especially Peyton. That's not a knock or criticism. I am not passing judgment.

Take another NFL quarteback from Louisiana--Jake Delhomme, another very high quality young man who deserves our respect. Delhomme oozes south Louisiana. Listen to him for 30 seconds and you can guess where he is from. And you know where he lives during the offseason. There is no doubt as to his cultural roots. There seems to be less clarity as to the cultural connections between the Manning sons and Louisiana. That is all I am trying to say. And I guess I have reached the point where I can't say it more clearly (and I suggest those still struggling with my position need to look at my second post, which is at the bottom of page 2 of this thread).

PS Kooldak, appreciate the kind words, and I enjoy your posts as well, though we have been members of this board for some time. I really welcome those who disagree telling me so and why. But I don't post to provoke, and I try to word my posts to avoid provoking. I think I am seeing upclose and personal the reasons that so many college professors see any discussion of regional and national culture and cultural differences as toxic.

 

[DadsDream]

Your point is well-taken RJ, at least I take it well.

See, these days a lot of Saints fans put Archie up on a pedastal.

But, as I recall from my youth, quite a few Louisiana folks were never thrilled to get an Ole Miss quarterback who robbed LSU of a perfect season and a shot at the National Championship against Texas in 1969...by three points!

 

[RandyB]

it is because they spend a week at neshoba county fair in mississippi. That keeps their accent like ours.

 

[Faith Man]

I wonder what Nick Saban would say they sound like?

 

[wbbigtymer]

I think they've both spent enough time in mississippi to account for the accent. As for their time in New Orleans, I don't think you'll find it very common for someone who is a "1st generation" new orleanian in their socioeconomic bracket to have that "new orleans" accent these days. To sum things up, here are my reasons that they don't have a yat accent:

1) First things first: not that many people who go to Newman, et al. have any distinguishable new orleans accent. Having gone to Ben Franklin, and knowing lots of people from Newman, Country Day, St. Martin, etc, I'd say far fewer than 10% had a heavy accent (to my ear, anyway).

2) If you're a 1st generation New Orleanian (your parents grew up somewhere else), you're not likely to pick up that much of an accent even if you spent a lot of time in New Orleans.

3) They spent a lot of time in Mississippi, and their dad sounds just like they do...hmmm

 

[Danchrism]

(snip)
Having gone to Ben Franklin,

What year? I'm Franklin '02

 

[dtc]

Okay, now if we are talking about Jake Delhomme that's a TOTALLY DIFF. story Listening to him talk.............you know he's one of ours.

Not that there's anything wrong with it, but he doesn't sound like one of mine at all. And those that went to Holy Name, Newman, etc., especially those who are first generation New Orleanians, it is unlikely that they picked up the accent yet.

 

[wbbigtymer]

What year? I'm Franklin '02

'04. /1212