The 10 Best Things About Pittsburgh: #4

#4 Pittsburghese. I grew up in Pittsburgh, but I don't think I ever uttered the word "Yinz" except in jest. I do know that I was hounded constantly by my Broadcasting Professor at Duquesne University, Frank Thornton. His favorite thing was to make me say, "There was a fire at the tire store on the South Side." After 4 yers at Duquesene and 22 years in Virginia, I dropped a lot of my Pittsburghese. I used rubber bands, drank soda, cheered for the Steelers, shopped at Giant and told people I was from Pittsburgh. But I could always pick out a Pittsburgh accent (just like I can pick out a friggin' Canadian the moment they speak) whether on TV, radio or from speaking with someone in person. Roads were slippery when wet, the weather was cloudy, and I was proud to have lost most of my accent and even was accused by my Pittsburgh friends of saying "y'all" occasionally.

But I'm back and I'm embracing Pittsburgheese again. I say "slippy", "pop", "gumband" and I even called someone a "jagoff" recently. And it's OK; it's who I am. Just as long as I don't turn into "Chipped Ham Sam"

For the those of you in Pittsburgh, here's my blog in Pittsburghese, translated from Pittsburghese.com.

#4 Picksburghese. I grew up in Picksburg, P-A, but I don't think I ever sed da word "Yinz" except jaggin' aroun n'at. I do know that I was bein jagged aroun by my Broadcastin Pafessor at Dew-kwez-nee University, Frankie Thornton n'at. His favorite ting was to make me say, "dere was a fahr at da tahr store on da Sahside." After 4 yers at Duquesene and 22 years dahn in Virginia, I dropped lots of my Picksburgese n'at. I used gumbands, drank pop, cheered fer da Stillers, shopped at Jahnt and told people I was from Picksburg n'at. But I could always pick aht a Picksburg accent (jest like I can pick aht a frikin' Canuck when dey tawk) whether on TV, radeeo or from tawkin' wit someone n'at. Roads wuz slippy when wet, da weather wuz clahdy, and I wuz prahd to have lost mosta my accent n'at and even was accused by my Picksburg friends of saying "y'all" ur sumptin.

But I'm back and I'm cool wit Picksburgese again n'at. I say "slippy", "pop", "gumband" and I even called some jagoff a "jagoff" recently n'at. And it's Oakel-Doakel; it's who ahz n'at. jest as long as I don't turn inta "Chipped Ham Sam" er sumptin.