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By Dina Willgruber Over the years Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , has become one of the fastest, most talked about cities in the nation. Not just for being the “City of Champyinz ” but also for the community dialect. There are so many people moving in and out of the area it’s no wonder that people across the nation are picking up “Pittsburghese.” Some may ask what exactly is “Pittsburghese”? The answer is not as simple as one would like to think. “Pittsburghese” is the dialect of Pittsburgh and the Tri-State Area ( Western New York , Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio ). It is our heritage, our foundation, our heart, and our individuality. Just like you would find in New York or in someone from the southern states, there is a distinct accent or dialect. The way words are pronounced and the attitude in the way the words are pronounced make the dialect unique for that particular geographical area. Usually when people think of this area they think of the “Pixburgh Stillers” (Pittsburgh Steelers), “yinz” (you ones), “slippy” (slippery), “nebby” (nosy or busybody), “pop” (soda pop), “jeet jet?” (did you eat yet?) and many more. The most popular phrase from a Pittsburgher is “dahntahn” (down town). We tend to put a long “a” in the place of an “o.” Pittsburgher’s also use the phrase “n’at” (and that) after almost every sentence. It is actually quite amusing if you are a native of Pittsburgh talking to someone from out of town. They cannot pick up the dialect quickly enough to understand what we are talking about. There are some people who are ashamed of our heritage in Pittsburghese. They consider it to be a “blue collar working class” classification that has prejudices attached to it. Not to say that these people frown on those of us who are proud to inherit such a language, but they have a tendency to hang out with us because they are upper white collar people who probably were born with a silver spoon in their mouths. (Yes, I am being the prejudiced one with that comment). Many Pittsburghers are not aware of our accents and dialect until someone else points it out to us. Some respond by continuously watching what they say and how they say it to avoid any uncomfortable feelings. But nonetheless, we are proud to bear the burden of a language that has derived from many different cultures. Social researchers have traced back the origin of Pittsburghese to when the first settlers came to the Western Pennsylvania area from England , Scotland , Ireland , Russia , Germany and Poland. A lot of our words are actually combinations of words from the different cultures. It was the combination of these words and there dialect that created the birth of Pittsburghese. Many social researchers have suggested that Pittsburghese is not native to the city of Pittsburgh but to the entire nation. As I mentioned in the opening paragraph, there are many people moving in and out of the city all the time. The reason you can find Pittsburghese in Portland , Oregon, is that someone from the area moved there and has either not adapted to the "normal English" spoken or refuses to give up his roots and heritage. Researches have also suggested that African-Americans do not use the Pittsburghese, that they consider it to be “white-speech” and do want that to tax their own identity. I disagree with that because I have never heard any native born Pittsburgher of any race or color not speak in the "native tongue" at least once during any conversation. I will say that they put their own twist on the dialect giving it a more southern tone, therefore making it a language of their own. We Pixburgh natives are all over the country, and I think that it is safe to say that just because someone moves from the area doesn’t mean that he or she should drop those roots and identity. I have said this many times: once a native born and raised, always a native born and raised. You can take the person out of “Da Burgh,” but unless they want to, you can’t take “Da Burgh outta da” person. Information about Pittsburgh Speech and Society http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_English Yoi and double Yoi courtesy of the late Myron Cope: Pittsburgh Steeler Football Announcer for 30+ years. He would say that after every bad play or every series of downs. He will be missed. ***Please check out a clip from one of radio stations on www.youtube.com title “you’re from Pittsburgh if:…..” It is from the WDVE Morning Crew. I really think that you will enjoy it. ______________________________________________________________________ Dina Willgruber is a writer from Conway , Pennsylvania , just a little north of "Pixburgh," and as you might expect, is fascinated by why people from the “City of Champyinz ” talk the way they do. You can reach here at dinamarie77@yahoo.com |