My Vocabulary/Internal Monologue - Problematic?

Kendrik

Kendrik

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Staff member
Recently, I've realized that my internal monologue, the thing that represents my thoughts in my head, has a Southern accent. I don't think any of you have actually heard me speak yet, but I don't exactly speak with a Southern drawl (barrin' my almost certain drop of the endin' "g" on words outside of a formal context).

In itself, this seems mostly harmless. However, I'm intrigued by the fact that it can sometimes absorb a different accent. Example, I've been watching a certain mafia-themed show lately, and I find that my internal monologue sometimes shifts to the accent of an Italian-American in New Jersey.

But it doesn't stop there. Noooooo. I start using words I don't usually use. I start saying things like "I could really go for some good gabagool right now."

But wait! There's more!

Even though I've spent most of my life here in the Northwest, I'm very much a Southern boy at heart (probably why my internal monologue reflects that). Thing is, for some unknown reason, I tend to want to channel Gambit of Marvel Comics (and not that fool in the Wolverine movie) in my speech (even if he's more Cajun than Southern... he manages to get blended in). By "want to," I mean "it takes intentional effort to keep myself from instinctively doing so." This is especially triggered when talking with Southern girls who say things like "hon" and "sugar" because that's just their warm vocabulary (I so love the warmth of the South). I find myself keeping from saying things like "don'tchu worry 'bout a thing, cher; I gotchu taken care of."

Now that you've spent forever reading my silly little introspection, I must jokingly ask you this: Do you think the odd nature of my internal monologue and shifting vocabulary is problematic?
 
Kendrik said:
Recently, I've realized that my internal monologue, the thing that represents my thoughts in my head, has a Southern accent. I don't think any of you have actually heard me speak yet, but I don't exactly speak with a Southern drawl (barrin' my almost certain drop of the endin' "g" on words outside of a formal context).

In itself, this seems mostly harmless. However, I'm intrigued by the fact that it can sometimes absorb a different accent. Example, I've been watching a certain mafia-themed show lately, and I find that my internal monologue sometimes shifts to the accent of an Italian-American in New Jersey.

But it doesn't stop there. Noooooo. I start using words I don't usually use. I start saying things like "I could really go for some good gabagool right now."

But wait! There's more!

Even though I've spent most of my life here in the Northwest, I'm very much a Southern boy at heart (probably why my internal monologue reflects that). Thing is, for some unknown reason, I tend to want to channel Gambit of Marvel Comics (and not that fool in the Wolverine movie) in my speech (even if he's more Cajun than Southern... he manages to get blended in). By "want to," I mean "it takes intentional effort to keep myself from instinctively doing so." This is especially triggered when talking with Southern girls who say things like "hon" and "sugar" because that's just their warm vocabulary (I so love the warmth of the South). I find myself keeping from saying things like "don'tchu worry 'bout a thing, cher; I gotchu taken care of."

Now that you've spent forever reading my silly little introspection, I must jokingly ask you this: Do you think the odd nature of my internal monologue and shifting vocabulary is problematic?
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Uuummm...IF I understood all that correctly, which I don't think I did at 4 in the morning...then my answer is NO. :D
 
Nothing wrong with it though you may want to watch out with strangers as they may think you are mocking them if you suddenly switch to their accent :) .

If you are any good at the accents I would also consider a career as a voice actor :p .

Kendrik said:
This is especially triggered when talking with Southern girls who say things like "hon" and "sugar" because that's just their warm vocabulary (I so love the warmth of the South). I find myself keeping from saying things like "don'tchu worry 'bout a thing, cher; I gotchu taken care of."
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I agree <sings>"Southern Girls with the way they talk they knock me out when I'm down there."</sings> :p
 
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Oh man. I was just talking about warmth of character and vocabulary of Southern girls, but you gonna bring their accent itself into question? Don't even get me started on my love for the Southern accent. No accent dazzles me nearly as much as the Southern accent does. Favorite. Accent. Ever.

I'm not particularly great at accents, though... even if some subtle hints work their way into my speech from time to time. It's more a matter of how I hear myself than how others hear me.

Well... except for the shifts in vocabulary. That's a lot more obvious, mon amis.
 
Kendrik said:
Oh man. I was just talking about warmth of character and vocabulary of Southern girls, but you gonna bring their accent itself into question? Don't even get me started on my love for the Southern accent. No accent dazzles me nearly as much as the Southern accent does. Favorite. Accent. Ever.
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Psssh, that's just because Rogue has talks that way. >.>
 
Have you ever seen Secret Window with Johnny Depp? If not, maybe you should.
 
Kendrick said:
Do you think the odd nature of my internal monologue and shifting vocabulary is problematic?
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No, but it does, I think, reflect a bit upon the influences that you are subjecting yourself to. For example, you have a strong affinity to the southern dialect, so you probably read books and watch movies about, or listen to music/speakers from the south. Hence you start to pick up pieces of their regional differences.

An interesting side note to this is for the people that think that they can watch/read/listen to whatever they want and that they aren't affected by it. The truth is, we are influenced by the media that we ingest, and we need to shield ourselves from the worldly stuff because the violence on TV, nudity in movies, and crass song lyrics can and do influence us, even if we don't realize it at the time.
 
Durruck said:
An interesting side note to this is for the people that think that they can watch/read/listen to whatever they want and that they aren't affected by it. The truth is, we are influenced by the media that we ingest, and we need to shield ourselves from the worldly stuff because the violence on TV, nudity in movies, and crass song lyrics can and do influence us, even if we don't realize it at the time.
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As with anything we ingest, it doesn't always have to have a negative effect. I believe this is the same for violence, nudity, and crass song lyrics. My point is, just because we are affected, it does not mean we will commit violent acts, or become sex (or porn) addicts, or even start swearing from song lyrics. Of course, all of these things could result from be subjected to the topic matter listed above, but that is where you must know you boundaries.

I'm sure some of you will just say i'm defending my right to partake in these things, oh well.
 
Realizing that you're in denial is the first step toward recovery, inkelis.

/Lazarus returns to the big, warm, dark closet in which he hides from the evil world

Thou shalt set no wicked thing before thine eyes, my friends.

And Kendrik, you need to stick with the accent God gave you. Those Italian and Southern vocabularies contain words not fit to be uttered!
 
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A. I love you, Laz. <3

B. I agree with Durruck insofar as it is good to be aware of how media intake affects us and be aware it can affect more than we would initially think.

C. I ultimately agree with inkelis in that it is not what goes into the man that makes him unclean, but it is what comes out of the man that is the problem. We are all affected by intake differently, so what affects one man in one way is not sure to affect another man in the same way. As an example, many would say that the Sopranos is a show meant to promote violence, illicit sexuality, profane utterances, and so on. By no stretch of the imagination would I say those things are not in the show, but those things are not what I get out of the show. Instead, I see themes of family, respect, and so on. Moreover, I'm a natural learner, and it's just as easy for me to learn and appreciate things by negative example as positive example. Do I feel like using a certain accent or referring to Italian meats (things I like with or without watching the show anyway) a little more after watching a marathon of episodes? Sure. Am I off fornicatin', cussin', killin', and so on after that same marathon? Not even close. Essentially, when it comes to the influences of media intake, your mileage may vary.

D. I could really go for some Italian cold cuts now that I've brought them up.

E. ???

F. Profit.
 
just curious, are you talking Georgia southern, Louisiana southern, Texas southern, or Missouri/Arkansas/Kansas southern?
 
Elader Arkon said:
just curious, are you talking Georgia southern, Louisiana southern, Texas southern, or Missouri/Arkansas/Kansas southern?
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I'm pretty sure I have a Texas lean in my internal monologue. I tend to like Tennessee accents the most, though. <3 Tennessee accent.
 
I'm partial to the Georgia southern myself. Though my favorite American accent is the deep Minnesota/Wisconson area. It's one of the reasons I love visiting the relatives up there.
 
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