-
Step 1
Make an effort to visit the New Jersey area so you can experience the accent firsthand. Visit multiple areas of the state to help you access a wide range of dialect differences. Take a recording device if possible and recording random conversations so you have a frame of reference.
-
Step 2
Watch movies where the characters have New Jersey accents. Many accents will be overdone because of the dramatic effect, and many mob movies also utilize a stereotypical Jersey accent. However, you can still get a good idea of how some of the language is used in that region. Rent movies starring New Jersey native Frank Sinatra or even funny movies, such as "Jay and Silent Bob", are set in New Jersey and give a good overview of the colloquial language.
-
Step 3
Drop the "r" in most of your words to begin encompassing one of the major phonetic differences of New York and New Jersey dialect; for example, saying "ba" instead of "bar" is common in New Jersey. Practice dropping your "r"s as a good primer for speaking with a valid Jersey accent, but don't overdo it.
-
Step 4
Relax your consonant sounds in other words. Particularly pay attention to the relaxation of "d", "t", "l", "s", and "o". These sounds will result in a lazier and more languished feel to the overall word and capture a bit of the New Jersey style of speaking.
-
Step 5
Learn a bit of the New Jersey colloquial language as different words are used to describe different things, a shopping cart is a carriage and a hero sandwich is a grinder. Noticing distinctions in language usage will make your accent more believable and authentic.
Comments
torankusu said
on 11/6/2009 Sorry about the double post. I didn't know the first one was posted. Unfortunately, I can't edit or delete that extra comment, which is stupid. Registering here was a waste of my time. /sigh
torankusu said
on 11/6/2009 I've lived in northern NJ (I'm 15 minutes away from Manhattan) my entire life. This is terrible, sorry.
We pronounce the r's, I've never heard "grinder" to describe a type of sandwich, and we don't say "carriage" for shopping carts.
I agree with Pegasis. However, I have to disagree with Kellyag with confusing this for a NY accent. This doesn't sound anything like northern NJ or NY.
torankusu said
on 11/6/2009 I've lived in northern NJ (I'm 15 minutes away from Manhattan) my entire life. This is terrible, sorry.
We pronounce the r's, I've never heard "grinder" to describe a type of sandwich, and we don't say "carriage" for shopping carts.
I agree with Pegasis. However, I have to disagree with Kellyag with confusing this for a NY accent. This doesn't sound anything like northern NJ or NY.
pegasis said
on 10/23/2009 Right, I am from Massachusetts and I drop the R's, my boyfriend is from Delran/Delanco N.J. he pronounces the R's. And he calls them hoagies and I say subs. I say carriage, he says shopping cart. He says door'der, I say daw'da...for daughter. He says ant, I say arhnt; meaning my mothers sister. Or should I say, "My muhthiz sistah."
nothinmuch said
on 6/30/2009 Uhm this ehow is entirely inaccurate...
Generally speaking, a grinder/hero sandwich is referred to as a "sub" in North Jersey and a "hoagie" in South Jersey.
The pronunciation tips are just awful... :-/