Conference Countdown

Yo! Wanna Talk Like a Philadelphian?

Before embarking on any trip it is always important to learn about the area's venues and language. That way the locals can understand you and vice versa.

It was once said that England and the United States are two countries separated by a common language. This article will attempt to provide you with a brief overview of the idiosyncracies of the Philadelphia version of English to make your stay during the conference an even more enjoyable one.

The most eye-opening thing to me as I began my research was the realization that growing up in the 'burbs hadn't really changed the basic city speech patterns. You can take the Philadelphian outta da city, butcha can't take the city outta da Philadelphian. The more I read, the more I realized that the accent that I thought I was sublimating was lurking everywhere in my speech.

To begin, we may as well mention the most well known ones first so you have lots of time to practice them before you arrive. While being known for talking quickly and swallowing letters in the oddest parts of words, there are certain multisyllabic words which we like to give more than their just due.

Read the following sentence aloud:
Anymore, Philadelphians have the attitude that they live in a beautiful municipal area.
To speak proper Philadelphian, it would be pronounced:
Anymore, Philuhdelfins have the ad-dy-tude that they live in a bee-you-di-ful myun-ee-sip-al area.

Everyone's become familiar with the infamous "Yo" thanks to Rocky Balboa. But, there are some equally important phrases for you to use which are best illustrated by this deep conversation:
Yo! Wha's supp? G'eet? No. G'ew? No. 'squeet.
Translation: Yo! What's up? Did you eat? No. Did you? No. Let's go eat.

One article I read really surprised me not because it pointed out unique pronunciations, but because I didn't realize that they were unique. The author provided a list of unusual ways we say the following words:

 Powell Avenue  	 	Pal Avenue Towel			Tal Mayor			Mare Eagles			Iggles Legal			Liggle 

I look forward to many attendees visiting our hospitality booth to explain how else these words could possibly be pronounced!

I was going to end with an explanation of the Philadelphia O (try pronouncing home as heouwm for the nearest approximation) but some things you just have to experience for yourself.

So, now, fully armed with your Philadelphian Lexicon, you're ready for June. To close with our mantra: Philadelphia!! Youse comin' or wha'?

Food Terms

 Philadelphianism     Translation wardder		     water hoagie		     submarine; hero sandwich taffy		     lollipop scrapple	     no known equivalent in the universe Ackamee		     Acme where you buy the food 

             Geographical Terms 

Philadelphianis	        Translation 

Down the Shore	        the New Jersey shore (as in "Are ya goin'    communities down the shore this weekend?) the Boulevard	        Roosevelt Boulevard the Ridge  	        Ridge Avenue the Blue Route          Route 476 the Clothes Pin         Sculpture located at 15th & Market.                         Official name is "The Kiss" 

 East River Drive	now called Kelly Drive 	               	but no Philadelphian 			worth their salt can 			remember whether they 			renamed the East or West  			River Drive Two Street		2nd Street - Home of the  			Mummers where you do "The Strut" crick			Creek payment			pavement or sidewalk 

And to keep your bearings while strolling downtown, remember the mnemonic:

My Cat Sam Won't Like Soft Pretzels

It's the main streets in Philly: Market, Chestnut, Sansom, Walnut, Locust, Spruce and Pine Streets.