Sunday, January 2, 2011

All buttoned up

As far as regional American accents go, I don't have much of one.
More than one person, upon hearing that I grew in in New York, commented that I didn't sound like I was from NY.
To which I've replied, "I'm from NY state, not the Bronx!  The whole state doesn't sound like that."

But the one word that I've been called out on a number of times is the word "button."
I say "buht' n" really quick with the accent on the first syllable and kind of lose the second "t". 
The people who have called me on this say something like "but tun". 
I can't even wrap my tongue around that pronunciation.

How do you say "button?"

Do you have a pronounced accent?
Are there any words that people think that you say "funnily?"

(I also pronounce mountain like "mount' n" not "moun ten".)



22 comments:

Grammie/Mom said...

my word is "vague" and also "bagel". I tend not to pronounce them with a long 'a' but with the short sound. Dad will call me out on it.

Grammie/Mom said...

Hey where did the Harley-Davidson buttons come from?

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Darned if I could tell you if I have an accent. I just like all your buttons. Happy New Year!! Cathy

Anonymous said...

Really fun...love the variety of colors!

Love 2Bs said...

Stopped in to find a nice photo and also found an interesting thought. I lived in Queens, NY for over 30 years and also grew up saying but-n. But now I live in CT and say buh-in. For some reason people here in CT don't say T's when they are in the middle of the word. No one guesses that I'm from NY anymore!

Plant Chaser said...

I'll probably just generalize your accent as American.
:-P
-- Bom / http://www.plantchaser.com

Mrs. Bird said...

Lol, I think I say but-ton. Accents crack me up!

Unknown said...

Oh yes! I saw manure funnY! lol It comes out Muh nyur lol

I used to get told I sounded like I was from NY all the time when I waitressed in MO - I think it's just cuz I talked fast. :)

Unknown said...

Oh, I love the buttons!!! Happy New Year!

Alita said...

BUTTONS are fun! :)

Happy New Year Colleen! I have LOVED getting to know you, but I think you know that.

HERES TO 2011!!!! :)))

Tammie Lee said...

wonderful and colorful photo.
i have been teased for button coming out of my mouth like 'buddon'.

Maaike said...

I say knoop in dutch ;-)
happy new year!

Jama said...

Love your collection of buttons!

Hootin Anni said...

I enjoyed reading about the accent. Too funny. Well, in a way it is. I'm raised in the rocky mountains...midwest...and I say BUH tin


My macro is posted. I do hope you can join me.

EG CameraGirl said...

Ha! Funny how some words give us away!

You have such a neat collection of but-tuns!

oz said...

I pronounce button like you do. I'm originally from Jersey, I think I disappoint people when they discover I don't have the signature Joi'sey accent. I don't have an identifiable accent...but I have been told I speak REALLY fast :)

Wonderful colors in that shot!!

Karen said...

I love buttons. I have a button jar, and I am sure some of them are from my mom's button jar 40 years ago,

A terrific shot, so colourful.

Anika said...

Huh. I say it like you and am from California. I did have a friend who said it the other way though...she always thought it was odd the was she pronounced the word but couldn't change. Funny.
Great photo!

Anonymous said...

Great composition, colors and DoF!

Elizabeth said...

I have never been called out on button although I do say it like you do. But the 2 words i most frequently get called out on/made fun of for in AZ are bought and coffee... i pronounce bought like bawt not like bot. i can't even get myself to say it like bot if i tried. it hurts my brain lol and i say coffee like cawfee. the only 2 word that i know of in my vocabulary that have any hint of a NY accent to them. Otherwise i get the whole you don't sound like you're from ny and then i realize that people forget that there is an entire state outside of NYC lol.

Unknown said...

oooo! what a great macro

Autumn Belle said...

This is beautiful!