Take It From a Dakota Boy, Colorado Natives DO Have an Accent – Brian’s Blogs

Being from North Dakota I get a lot of grief about my accent. It have been watered down after 30 years of living in Colorado but now and then my Dakota talk come oozing out doncha know. I can hear myself sometimes when I say "coat" or "boat" or "about" or the occasional "uffda" and "you betcha". People from Colorado will laugh and comment on the accent and natives of the state will tell you they don't have an accent here in Colorado. I can tell you that they are dead wrong. Colorado natives definitely do have an accent.

I have noticed it for years but have said nothing. I can remain silent no longer. Here are a few examples of the "Colorado accent" that drive me crazy. First of all, it is a "field" not a "filled". I hear this one all the time. I would also like to point out that an orange is covered by a "peel" not a "pill". The big one that really gets me about the "Colorado accent" is the way Coloradoans accent the word "it". Being from North Dakota, I would say something like "I went all the way to Ault to get it" while a Colorado native would say "I went all the way to Ault to get IT". The word "it" is always heavily accented when you speak to someone from Colorado. I don't get IT.

I love Colorado and am proud to now call it my home but as a transplant, I have to point out that you guys all talk kind of funny too. If you can think of other examples of the "Colorado accent" please comment here and share.