I beg to differ that there is no such thing as a Durham accent. Although it may be disappearing, there is definitely an upper class Durham accent as well as an upper class Charlotte accent and both sound very similar. And it is distinctive among people who have lived there all of their lives. Allow me a story: My husband and I were having dinner several years ago in the back room of a restaurant in a small town in France. From the front room came the sound of a table of folks speaking English. We listened for a while. "Those people in the next room are from Durham or, possibly, Charlotte," I told my husband. "How can you tell?" he asked. "The accent. Definitely patrician Durham or possibly Charlotte," I said. We met the folks and guess what - Charlotte! Old Raleigh has a similar accent. Of course as more and more people move into both areas, the accent is disappearing as natives mingle with newcomers much like on Ocracoke Island. Northeastern North Carolina and Tidewater Virginia are the same way - very distinctive accents.
Great work as always, Jeremy. In typical surface-level knowledge of our state, they incorporate a Duke-UNC storyline but didn’t bother to reach out to the N.C. State professor who actually knows his shit about N.C. accents. Much respect to the great Wolf Wolfram.
First Union bought and merged with Wachovia in 2001, which then merged with Wells Fargo. First Union was all over NC, not just Charlotte. No idea about the shirt, but it’s probably real.
Pretty sure one of the vowels is O. Raleigh native here. I first moved to London in 1988. I remember telling people I lived on Burnthwaite Road. They would go, "Rooooooood? I see you've aready picked up the accent! To which I'd reply, "Nooooo....that's a Southern O!"
Most people on here who think Durham does not have an accent is likely because you’re not from Durm. Just take a step into North, East, and South Durm then make this statement again. What’d you find? Try to remember to say it with your chest this time.
I totally remember that T-shirt...FU employees wore them for a while...I'm gonna say early 90s (?)...to promote that "Reality Checking" account program. What "reality" looked like, I don't remember. It was the 90s...
I can't speak for Durham, but there is absolutely a distinct Charlotte accent. Listen to native Charlotteans who have lived here their whole lives. It's a thing.
I am completely outraged by this British actor guy confusing Durham and Charleston. If Durham had an accent, it would be NOTHING like Charleston’s. He does sound like Thomas Ravenel, though.
Saying that there is no such thing as a Durham accent. Is like saying there is no such thing as a Carboro accent. Neither are true. Riotgght? In my best Durham accent!😂🤣😂🤣
That First Union logo really took me back. When I was in a kid in Greensboro, a First Union plastic oval coin purse was one of my treasured possessions. No idea where I got it; we were firmly Wachovia and SECU people. If the shirt is real, they certainly had a strong merch game, for a regional bank.
The accents of White Lotus 3 aren’t offensive, which is refreshing. Thirty years ago, I could tell the exact NC county (all 100), where a native speaker was from. No longer. While regional pronunciations and sayings linger, they’re much more subtle. It’s saddening. Blame the carpetbaggers & television, as this trend emerged long before the internet.
I will give Jason Isaacs grace for this. He portrayed Cary Grant in a recent biopic. Check out Geoff Lindsey's YouTube videos on accents and pronunciations.
I still remember reviews not being kind to Matt McGrath's "Little Washington" accent in Cruel Doubt, about the NC State student complicit in his father's murder.
I beg to differ that there is no such thing as a Durham accent. Although it may be disappearing, there is definitely an upper class Durham accent as well as an upper class Charlotte accent and both sound very similar. And it is distinctive among people who have lived there all of their lives. Allow me a story: My husband and I were having dinner several years ago in the back room of a restaurant in a small town in France. From the front room came the sound of a table of folks speaking English. We listened for a while. "Those people in the next room are from Durham or, possibly, Charlotte," I told my husband. "How can you tell?" he asked. "The accent. Definitely patrician Durham or possibly Charlotte," I said. We met the folks and guess what - Charlotte! Old Raleigh has a similar accent. Of course as more and more people move into both areas, the accent is disappearing as natives mingle with newcomers much like on Ocracoke Island. Northeastern North Carolina and Tidewater Virginia are the same way - very distinctive accents.
Great work as always, Jeremy. In typical surface-level knowledge of our state, they incorporate a Duke-UNC storyline but didn’t bother to reach out to the N.C. State professor who actually knows his shit about N.C. accents. Much respect to the great Wolf Wolfram.
First Union bought and merged with Wachovia in 2001, which then merged with Wells Fargo. First Union was all over NC, not just Charlotte. No idea about the shirt, but it’s probably real.
I FLIPPED when I saw that shirt bc hadn't thought of First Union in decades. Truly a deep cut!
Pretty sure one of the vowels is O. Raleigh native here. I first moved to London in 1988. I remember telling people I lived on Burnthwaite Road. They would go, "Rooooooood? I see you've aready picked up the accent! To which I'd reply, "Nooooo....that's a Southern O!"
Most people on here who think Durham does not have an accent is likely because you’re not from Durm. Just take a step into North, East, and South Durm then make this statement again. What’d you find? Try to remember to say it with your chest this time.
I totally remember that T-shirt...FU employees wore them for a while...I'm gonna say early 90s (?)...to promote that "Reality Checking" account program. What "reality" looked like, I don't remember. It was the 90s...
I think the most important thing here is how we can procure one of those First Union shirts.
I can't speak for Durham, but there is absolutely a distinct Charlotte accent. Listen to native Charlotteans who have lived here their whole lives. It's a thing.
There are *multiple* Charlotte accents, East Charlotte certainly has one, as does the area around Quail Hollow.
It exists. I have one.
I am completely outraged by this British actor guy confusing Durham and Charleston. If Durham had an accent, it would be NOTHING like Charleston’s. He does sound like Thomas Ravenel, though.
Saying that there is no such thing as a Durham accent. Is like saying there is no such thing as a Carboro accent. Neither are true. Riotgght? In my best Durham accent!😂🤣😂🤣
03/21/25: The Ghost of Nancy Mitford wants to know if these are "U" or "Non-U" accents.
03/21/25: Oh, great. Now we're obsessed with "vowel movements."
That First Union logo really took me back. When I was in a kid in Greensboro, a First Union plastic oval coin purse was one of my treasured possessions. No idea where I got it; we were firmly Wachovia and SECU people. If the shirt is real, they certainly had a strong merch game, for a regional bank.
The accents of White Lotus 3 aren’t offensive, which is refreshing. Thirty years ago, I could tell the exact NC county (all 100), where a native speaker was from. No longer. While regional pronunciations and sayings linger, they’re much more subtle. It’s saddening. Blame the carpetbaggers & television, as this trend emerged long before the internet.
I will give Jason Isaacs grace for this. He portrayed Cary Grant in a recent biopic. Check out Geoff Lindsey's YouTube videos on accents and pronunciations.
I still remember reviews not being kind to Matt McGrath's "Little Washington" accent in Cruel Doubt, about the NC State student complicit in his father's murder.