Odd accent and attitude

[KateMiddletonsExtensions]

I'm going to sound like a snob here. Enormously long Argos van showed up on the road this morning when there were cars everywhere. As well as the driver there was a young lad who looked about 15 though must have been older who got out to check the street as I was going out. "Alright love?" he shouted over to me.

He had the grey tracksuit tucked into socks and trainers look and a fade haircut with a plastered down fringe, and the accent was bizarre. A mix between the big fat gypsy wedding and "gangsta". Definitely not local (north Derbyshire) and nobody else I know speaks like that so where does it come from? What they watch on TV? How do accents evolve?

At 18 or so I'd never have thought about calling over to men in their 30s in the street. I had some attitude but not this. Hey at least he didn't say cheer up love I guess.

I'm with you on this. You do sound like a snob.

"Duck" is certainly a thing in Worksop and Sheffield!

Correct. You do sound like a snob.

Madness 🤣

"Alright love?" would be considered flamboyantly verbose in Bristol.

Here the only acceptable greeting is "Right?" to which the only polite and correct answer is "Right".

It's easily possible to tell people who aren't from around these parts (for example Londoners or Gangsta rappers from, say, Shropshire) because they consider "Right?" to be a question requiring an answer such as "Yeah, I'm great, how about you?". When Bristolians hear that kind of overly complicated response they merely plaster their fringe closer to their head and turn on their trainer-clad heels.

No amount of passing incomer fads like TV or popular music will ever water down this universal greeting.

If it was south Derbyshire it would have been “Ya’reet me duck?”, sounds like your young chap has had elocution lessons 😂

Why on earth was the length of the Argos van relevant.

Why was any of this?

OP, have you got a north Derbyshire accent then? 😂😂 Is that meant to be better than whatever accent his was??

😂😂😂😂😂

@Galiana it is not a Nottinghamshire only thing! Duck/Duckie is also a well loved term of endearment in most of Derbyshire, Stoke and Burton on Trent. And probably further a field. Nottingham cannot claim everything as their own!

I'm from Sheffield! Some people may use the phrase duck, but I'd put money on the fact they're from Nottinghamshire. Duck isn't a Sheffield thing.

I will concede it is a Midlands thing.

@MafsisNafsbutcompelling Because it was a bloody nightmare for them to get to where they needed to be because of parked cars and someone trying to drive away. The young guy got out to check where they were going to be able to pull up safely I think and probably knock on the door. It was longer than a removal van.

@Princesspollyyy No because I'm not originally from here.

Op is right about picking up a local accent from just the two words. I'm Derbyshire too, and all self respecting, Derbyshire bred working men would great a stranger or friend equally with "Aye up duck". I might suggest that the young person in the Argos lorry might be from Liverpool? I think you should contact the Border Police as a matter or urgency. 🤣🤣 Derbyshire people are generally quite friendly (not on Op's Street, clearly). So please strangers do not be put off by Op's distain at a friendly greeting from a non local youth with a questionable haircut.

So you're the one with the 'odd' accent then? Going by your own words...

@KateMiddletonsExtensions

What exactly are you complaining about?? You sound like an utter snob.

@Gifgirl Nothing odd about coming from Norwich 😄

Being serious for a minute (he did say more than two words as I heard him talk to the driver) it didn't seem regional, more affected in a way.

Don't you mean Naarich?

I used to live in the same area, and - you'll like this OP - my accent isn't even a UK one!
Thankfully, no-one was as judgmental, and neighbours didn't really have the time to stand and examine everyone parking on the street, then pick apart their looks and accents afterwards

This is a local place for local people, we'll have no strangers here .

You're missing the point @ChickHenLittle I asked "where does it come from? What they watch on TV? How do accents evolve?"

It wasn't a regional or overseas accent. It was like a mashup of different ones.

Who cares? Why does it matter so much to you?

I mean your Op didn't come across as just wondering about this young man's accent it just comes over that you are annoyed at a huge van and a "ruffian" in your street.

Accents and dialects change all the time teens don't want to sound like their parents they tend to go around in packs so they all speak the same and will take influence from outside sources music or the Internet etc etc .

My kids now adults used to sound different to me now they have the same accent/dialect.

Although one of my dc lives with someone who isn't "local" I hear the accent changing .