Boston Accent: A Sign of Authenticity?

Reflection on Megan's presentation: "Language and Identity"

Boston is notorious as a hub of intellectuals and a landmark for historical reflection. We are home to brave men, home to the Patriots and the Red Sox, home to Harvard. Boston's acclaim is even likened to its resemblance to England. Many tourists from England would agree that the similarity between Boston and England is astonishing: everything from the pub menus to the quaint brick housing on Beacon Hill, from the rich history to the modern intellectualism. However, while the British accent is strongly praised for sounding proper and refined, the Boston accent is perceived as obnoxious and vulgar.

I do not blame the criticism... and I consider myself a Bostonian. "Wicked Pissah" and "How ah ya?" just do not float my boat. In a state that is continuously ranked top 10 in America for intelligence, is it possible that state authenticity lies in an accent mirroring mental drain? While some Bostonians are proud of their accents, and it is quite evident, many are not. Most, for sure, do not even display the accent. Even along the very streets of Boston, the detested Bostonian accent is undeniable. Many native Bostonians deem it as uncouth and rustic,

Nevertheless, let's face it, the only thing more cacophonous to the ears than a Boston accent is a bad Boston accent. Next time a person "tries" to be a "true" Bostonian and fails, I would strongly suggest the person just "keep it real" and be himself. Most "true" Bostonian, those who have lived here are are the exemplifications of our pride, do not have the Boston accent. The Boston accent also varies by neighborhood and by ethnicity, hence, diluting its value to mark an individual as a genuine Bostonian. In neighborhoods throughout Boston, the dialects of the North End and East Boston of the city are heavily influenced by Italian immigrants, which creates a speech pattern more like that of New York City. The South Boston accent contains a great Irish population and is closer to the stereotypical Boston accent. All these people are Bostonians, no matter what their speech patterns may be.

I may be bias but Boston is truly a remarkable city. I still walk with pride the historical tourist sites (Quincy Market, Faneuil Hall, Freedom Trail, Duck Tour) and make it a point to live like a Bostonian – complete a pub crawl down Union Street, relax in Boston Commons, and enjoy outdoor lunch on Newbury. It is a gorgeous city, small enough to be manageable yet large enough to avoid social humdrum. I am smitten with Boston. I believe it is quite a shame to associate Boston's pride in an accent and dim our shine in being a historical and cultural, intellectual and hard-working heart of America.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North   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."
The Northeast
Philadelphia
The Midland
The South
Boston
The West
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

I personally find it quite frustrating that so many people associate authenticity to a land as being tied to self-decisive speech patterns (Jean Mills: "Connecting Communities: Identity, Language, and Diaspora"). I want to be seen as a Bostonian but I want to speak proper English. However, according to the survey above, I might as well be comfortable being assumed a Midwesterner. My love for Boston shall not waver in such madness!