You Say "Jersey Tomayto," I say "Jersey Tomahto"

In the late 80s / early 90s, I attended Trenton State College (renamed "The College of New Jersey" since 1996, but no graduate of TSC calls it that), which is located in Central Jersey and boasts an almost entirely in-state student body. Before I started at TSC, I didn't know I had an accent.

Turns out I do: A South Jersey accent.

All I noticed was that some others there had a North Jersey accent (think: Mike Myers' "Linda Richmond" character on the Saturday Night Live skit "Coffee Talk"). Alas, it is true: An accent is something someone else has.

There is a difference between accents and vernacular:

When we refer to someone's accent, we are usually talking about the characteristic inflection or tone of their words or speech. We may also use "accent" when describing how a particular group of people (especially the natives or residents of a region) speaks.

Examples of accent differences:

When South Jerseyans want that caffeinated drink in the morning, we ask for "CAH-fee." North Jerseyans ask for "CAW-fee."

When South Jerseyans want a Hersey's Kiss, Kit-Kat, or the like, we are craving "CHAHK-lit." North Jerseyans are craving "CHAWK-lit."

When South Jerseyans put their socks away, we put them in a "DRORR." North Jerseyans put them in a "DRAW."

When South Jerseyans just want the latest dish between friends, we like to "TAHK." North Jerseyans like to "TAWK."

* Side note: For all of you who believe all of NJ is the same, please allow me to point out that

(1) Most of the state is very nice, and is not -- by any means -- in the vicinity of a sewer plant,

(2) We are not all "just like New York City." That's only the northeastern part. The northwestern part is closer to Pennsylvania and New York state. Most of Southern NJ identifies with Philadelphian culture, except for Victorian Cape May and the farming area right above Delaware.

(3) NO ONE in New Jersey pronounces it "New Joisey"!

Now that that's out of my system...

Vernacular,on the other hand, is a language or dialect native to a region or country.

Examples of vernacular:

What South Jerseyans call a "hoagie," North Jerseyans call a "hero." (but Bostonians call it a "grinder" and natives of New Orleans call it a "po-boy")

A roll of paper towels in the U.S.A. becomes "polly roll" in the U.K. (for more on British English, see this past article and this site).

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