{"id":55,"date":"2014-12-16T12:46:30","date_gmt":"2014-12-16T19:46:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.irenenorth.com\/writings\/?p=55"},"modified":"2024-04-22T02:46:17","modified_gmt":"2024-04-22T02:46:17","slug":"some-things-you-should-know-about-new-york","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irenenorth.com\/writings\/2014\/12\/16\/some-things-you-should-know-about-new-york\/","title":{"rendered":"Some things you should know about New York"},"content":{"rendered":"

One day last week, I replied to a question at work and said a coworker had gone to get some coffee. Another coworker chuckled and asked me, \u201cDid you just say ‘caw-fee’\u201d? I did. Having spent roughly half my life in New York and the other half living in other states, I’ve lost most of what would be considered a New York accent. It usually only slips out when I’m angry. It’s rarely heard by anyone these days, but I suppose, to some extent, it will always be there.<\/p>\n

Though I no longer live in New York, there are still several things anger me when people get them incorrect. It’s similar to what people from the South have to endure when it’s assumed they’re all related and married to their sisters \u00a0or Nebraskans are all redneck cowboys chewing tobacco and worship the Huskers.<\/p>\n

When people hear New York<\/a>, they think you mean New York City. When they say New York City, they are thinking of Manhattan, and when they say Manhattan, they really mean Midtown. With that in mind, this is every conversation I’ve ever had with people when I say that I’m from New York State. People who live in New York State have their own variation in this conversation to relate to.<\/p>\n

Them<\/span>: Where are you from?
\nMe<\/span>: New York.
\nThem<\/span>: Oh I’ve never been to New York City!
\nMe<\/span>: I didn’t say New York City. I said I was from New York. The State.
\nThem<\/span>: Oh, what’s the difference?
\nMe<\/span>: Ugh!<\/p>\n

I grew up in Middletown, New York<\/a>. It’s in the Hudson Valley<\/a> on the Western side of the Hudson River. Middletown is 67 miles from Manhattan, which is part of New York City. Here’s a map<\/a> for you to look at.<\/p>\n

\"nymap\"<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Middletown is also in Orange County<\/a>. That’s in New York. It’s not \u00a0in California. It is also home<\/a> to the Orange County Choppers<\/a>. California, like many states, copied things from the East Coast because naming things is hard. The name New York isn’t even original. There is a long, detailed history<\/a> of changing names in the state and across the country. The next town over from Middletown is Goshen<\/a>, which is actually named after the Land of Goshen<\/a> in Egypt. Still, Orange County’s proper place is in New York, not some other state that came after us.<\/p>\n

\"Maryland\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Unfortunately, the map below is how everyone else in the world sees New York State. Yes, I know the person<\/a> who made the map misspelled non-existent.<\/p>\n

\"JGjXI\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Also, if you don’t know how to pronounce words correctly, learn. Stop saying the name of New York’s capital<\/a> wrong. Albany pronounced all-bin-y or awl-bin-y. Say<\/a> it correctly and know where<\/a> it is.<\/p>\n

\"never-forget\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Since we are on the subject of proper pronunciation, The Guardian has a new pronunciation guide<\/a> to help you speak correctly.<\/p>\n