Friday, April 22, 2005
Yankee talk?
A few months ago, Aaron read an article about "New Hampshire speak." This article included a list of terms in the local vernacular, such as wicked (as an adjective, of course), Massachusetts drivers, ice out, some very, very strange terms I'd never heard in my life, and finally, "flatlanders." Now, DO YOU KNOW WHAT A FLATLANDER IS? Half the members of my family did and said it was quite a common term, and the other half insisted that no New Hampshirite that they knew had ever used it or knew what it meant. This debate has continued for months. I now turn it over to you, dear reader. Have you heard the term, do you know what it means, and would you consider it common?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
15 comments:
No, no, and again, no.
We residents of "N'ampsha" (Yes, thst's how we say it, says AOL travel) use wicked as an ADVERB, not an adjective.
umm, I don't believe I've heard that one before. Someone who belives in a flat earth as opposed to a round one? :-)
yeah, i've heard of it, but for the life of me couldn't tell you what it meant, wicked cool, eh?
ahem.
Kate,
Katherine,
Derrick,
you aren't from NH, at least, not enough to count, so of course you wouldn't know.
Aaron,
your mom's from CT.
Um, I don't know the term "flatlander," either. Which half of your family did? Mom and Dad? Ryan and Cara? Just curious?
Wow Bria! I've lived here from 2-12, then from 19-27. so lets see, that is 18 years.As long as you've been alive, if I remember correctly. Just what qualifies as "enough" to count?
Or are you one of those blueblood type Nh'ites? :-)
Derrick,
Sorry, I was figuring that you moved to PA right after I was born...was it right after the twins? And technically, you can be an adult who lives in NH and still be a flatlander. But I'll yield here and say you've been here longer than I. :-)
oh, the half of my family who had heard the term were Daddy, myself,...and Ian and Duncan. :-)
I wouldn't call myself a dyed in the wool nh'ite. i have simply spent the majority of my life here. and believe me, there is more to life than just one's teenage years :-)
I dont remember hearing the term til we moved to Michigan, the land of flatlanders. The cashier at Meijer referred to herself in a joking, self-derogatory way, saying, "I'm just a flatlander" (long story)...but guess it refers to Mid-westerners?
Flatlander A person from one of the southern states (i.e. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, or, God forbid, New Jersey) who is unwise in the ways of the woods. Often spotted in a $40,000 SUV that they don't want to get dirty, flatlanders are normally found unprepared for their time in the woods, and can be easily distinguished by their whining and complaining about the "ungodly cold weather" anytime the temperature drops below 60oF. See also "Gaper". http://www.hike-nh.com/faq/glossary/index.php?gloslet=f
I have heard the term flatlander! Hurrah! I learned it listening to a local radio station in Keene while working at the Bank of New Hampshire. I feel so educated:)
Sounds like Mass'ites to me :-) heheehehee
nope--lived here in NH me whole life and never heard it before you were discussing it. But then I'm quite aware that I can be aggravatingly ignorant now can't I?
Post a Comment