Can you tell where someone is from from how they write on MN?

[Theystoleourrecipe]

I've noticed that when going through posts, I'll read something and think, 'oh this person is from x, just by the words and phrases they use. I'll sometimes be able to localise this to a more specific region. I never look at usernames when I'm reading unless something really stands out to me, so I generally don't have any prior knowledge of the poster influencing me. Of course I can't be 100% sure but I would put a bet on being right, most of the time.

Do you ever recognise a particular region through how a poster writes? Are you conscious of how you write, making sure not to use colloquialisms unique to your area or do you not think about it, or do it anyway?

I can usually spot fellow Scots. We use lots of different words and names for things.

Thank you, that's interesting - I didn't know about the regional distinction, and am now going to puzzle over just how I use them except the obvious "take it there" or "bring it here"! 😄

It appears RP is a means to separate us from them, Stanley Johnson asking if the English public could spell pinnochio. I love regional accents, surely everyone has a regional accent it's cultural and lovely.

As I posted above I have moved around a lot and people are generally unable to identify my accent. I went to grammar school in the South East in the 60s and my (northern working class ) parents read a lot hence the SE. I certainly don't have a cut glass RP accent but people usually think I'm 'Southern' although I have lived more than half my life in the North now.

Posts like this make me want to stab the eejit lecturering others on correct and acceptable language.

I grew up with the word nesh - my mum used it regularly. Nobody else around me knew what I meant, but I now live in an area where it's in common usage!

I’m from Derbyshire and know straight away that there is another midlander here by eating a cob.. so hello all midlander’s, I’m currently eating a bacon cob as we speak

Ay up, duck - can't beat a fresh cob from Bird's!

More Scottish identifiers I notice on here:
Chap on the door (knock)
Jag (jab - injection)
Sausage/Chicken/Fish Supper (named food item with chips)

On the other hand, I've seen people on here referring to their 'paycheck'; then, when people try to give financial advice or empathy, but apologise as they don't know if the situation is the same in the USA as in the UK, the bemused OP will ask "What makes you think I'm American?"

Slightly off-topic, but there was a thread on here the other week about 'non-ironers' - those who don't press their clothes before wearing them - and I just couldn't get it out of my head that they were actually talking about people from Northern Ireland

Bird's cake shop?
Only if they've some sausage rolls and pork pie left. But it's Saturday afternoon. They'll have washed their shelves and shut up shop hours ago.

I'll gutta Trent if they've any cobs left at this hour.

.

Historically, that's definitely what it was.
There's a good summary of the use of RP by (the God of all linguists) David Crystal. I'll see if I can find it.

(David, being of course, far more interested in the whys, whens, and hows than the rights and wrongs...)

I hope this link works. Speaking RP with a non Standard English dialect.

Thas kiddin aren't tha? Y carnt tell where am from from a bit er writing like.

https://www.cambridge.org/elt/blog/2022/05/25/received-pronunciation-old-new/#:~:text=Estimates%20are%20uncertain%2C%20but%20traditional,now%20fallen%20to%20around%202%25.

@MrsMoastyToasty that be Bristol- but I've heard similar here in Bath- along with ' thank eee drive' to bus drivers when getting off the bus

Aye, as in pig in a poke i.e. bag.

Btw mine's a cheese savoury batch ta, and yes, I must dig out DD's pumps for gym next Tuesday.

Slightly off-topic, but there was a thread on here the other week about 'non-ironers' - those who don't press their clothes before wearing them - and I just couldn't get it out of my head that they were actually talking about people from Northern Ireland

Me! Too!

Oooohh birds! I’d sell my soul for their lamb and mint slices and cream cakes!

I bet you also went to Tescos! Or perhaps Asdls.

I can always tell if posters are English when they say words rhyme and they don't to a person who pronounces their r's

I didn't know 'nesh' but I learned it from my friend's Mum. Lancashire.

I knew a Yorkshire woman who used the word 'fetch' more or less in the same way that I would use 'bring'.

Ah can't seh 'a' i've ivva noticed ta be 'onest. ah thowt most wor posh jessies due ta thea lack o' common sense.

My Dad was Scottish and I have Scottish relatives (Ayrshire). He always used to say “I’ll away to ma bed”! Also “does that need cleaned/polished/washed?” and “D’ye ken… ?” My Aunties used to use “outwith”, but I’m not sure now of the context, and also “forbye”, meaning as well as, I think! They used to call me ‘hen’.

My Mum was from the Black Country, and used ‘cut’ for canal, ‘entry’ for a passage between houses. She also remembered her Gran saying “up the suff (chimney?) and down the sinkhole”, (but I now have no idea of the context!) and ‘I’ll go to the foot of our stairs!’ if surprised.
I love dialect and regional differences in language so much. Doesn’t it make life richer?

We went on holiday to Scotland when I was about 10. I couldn't understand why the shopkeeper looked horrified when I asked him how much a poke was...