Twang and Drawl

I'm from Louisiana born and raised and contrary to popular belief there are other cities in Louisiana other than the infamous New Orleans! LOL! To us Louisianians, there is, for lack of better terms, something along the lines of a fuzzy Mason-Dixon line that divides this culturally complex mesh pot that we call home. Its simple, you're either from north Louisiana and have that "Southern Twang" or are from south Louisiana and have that "Southern Drawl". Those of you how are confused, raise your hands...I see you. Let me explain.

North Louisiana - folklore culture, probably due to the region being closer to Texas and picked up country, cow boyish type accents , i.e. "Southern Twang" think along the lines of Reba McEntire but maybe not so thick.

South Louisiana - French and Creole customs and culture and most often thought of Cajun and therefore creating the "Southern Drawl" think along the lines of Rene Lenier from True Blood.

Since that's out of the way...

I work in the telecommunications industry and I spend a lot of time on the phone talking to my South Louisiana co-hearts. All day long, I'm constantly having to decipher my 5's and 9's or listening to them joke around as they imitate me with an overtly country accent when I say something a little too Twangy for their taste. It's all in good spirits and I should be used to it now, but I guess you never really realize how you sound until other people point it out. Funny thing is, I've never really considered myself as having an accent. I've always thought of them as the ones with the accent. I mean seriously, image hearing from the reciever on your phone, "I'll tayk boat-uh-em" (read it just as its typed) that translates to "I'll take both of them" and you tell me I'm the one with the accent?!?! LOL!

Sometimes I even catch myself trying to over enunciate my words in a more propuh manner but its all to no avail, the country seems to seap through all my properness! But at the end of the day, I luuuvs my kuntry Twang, its meh and that's all I know how to be, is meh. Ta-Ta folks!