MORE TALK: Kent Smith of Farmers Valley adds another perspective to our discussion of regional pronunciations and sayings. Kent grew up in the area, spent 30 years as a radiologist in New Jersey, and then returned here in retirement.
To his ear, it sounds like retail clerks in stores in the area say “Think you” rather than “Thank you” when they’re returning change after a transaction.
And he adds another peculiar pronunciation of a place that we’ve noticed as well: “All my life, I’ve heard people in Smethport call it ‘Smithport,’” Kent says.
Ann Weiner of Bradford dropped us a note taking issue with our depiction of Philadelphians’ use of “youse” as the plural for “you.”
“I was born in Philadelphia, raised in Montgomery County and then lived and worked in Philadelphia,” Ann wrote. “I have never, ever, heard this in or around Philadelphia.”
Our curiosity piqued, we dialed up Ann to see what her accent was like. We have to admit, she never once said “youse” but she did say “ya” a lot, instead of yes.
“We say ‘ya’ all the time,” Ann says. “When I lived in Indianapolis, I had to force myself to say ‘yes.’ And I move my hands around when I talk — that’s another thing we do — we’re very expressive.”
And regarding the expression “Yo” for hello, she says she didn’t hear that much around Philly, either.
“I think the Rocky movies perpetuated that,” she says.
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ZIPPO SIGHTING: Several readers alerted us to a favorable mention of the local lighter in an article in the AARP magazine titled “The Best Ways to Spend $100.” The article asked experts how they would spend $100 to either save money, or make some.
Pawnshop owner Rick Harrison of the History TV series “Pawn Stars” said he would scour garage sales in search of vintage Zippo lighters to buy with his Ben Franklin.
The article noted that, because so many Americans smoked in the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s, “millions of Zippos are still hiding in the nation’s attics.”
Harrison noted that collectors covet lighters from the pre-disposable era, especially very early Zippo models with the hinge on the outside, which can sell for as much as $2,000.