California English

California English is a dialect of English spoken in the state of California, which has one of the largest and most diverse populations in the US. California English is not uniform across the entire state—there are many variations in accents and dialects, particularly between northern and southern Californians—nor is it confined only to California. Even so, there are certain linguistic features that can be identified as either originally or predominantly Californian. What are some examples? More...

As a native Californian whose lived in the Central Valley, North Coast, and Sierra Foothill areas, I found this article to be both dated and pointless for the most part. Several of the words and phrases the article attributes to certain areas of the state are already obsolete, and even when they were in use, were used by small segments or age groups of the Calif. population (e.g. 'hella'). The phonology may be useful, I can't say as I'm not expert in phonology nor did I grasp the phonological explanations. However, to make the broad generalization that rural Californians speak more slowly than urban Californians is inaccurate: there are numerous areas/regions/pockets of 'ruralness' in California, many of which had little if any exposure to southern/Oklahoman accents. And the reverse is also inaccurate: there is no one speech speed or pattern or accent used by Californians living in urban or suburban areas. People residing in California's urban, suburban, and rural areas are a mixture: natives, immigrants, persons moving from other US states, etc.


I found the mixture of speech (phonology) characteristics with terms/words a weird and confusing mash-up, and why the two were put together in one article was never made clear, nor was the connection, if any, between phonology and terms/words of specific areas.

Fireflies in California? I’ve lived in Santa Clara County, Contra Costa County, and Mendocino County for a total of almost 2 decades, now, and I’ve never seen any fireflies or lightning buts at all. Never. Not ever. Not even once.

I don’t drink soda, or pop, or carbonated beverages of any sort. Well, once a decade or so when I find one that’s not made with any sort of corn syrup. Those are scarcer than hen’s teeth.

We not only have rolo-poly pill bugs, we also have a similar but not entirely like critter called a wood louse. Kind of like the pill bug, but has slightly flanged edges. I called ‘em BB Bugs in Arkansas. When I was growing up there, little kids who don’t know any better, or who are just mean, used them in their BB guns as ammunition.

I don’t eat subs, grinders, or hoagies.

My bread has crusts. My shoes have heels. I’ve also, regrettably, dated a few heels.

I don’t care for water or drinking fountains...too unsanitary for my tastes.

But, still and all, California is fer sure, totally, awesome and gnarly, dude! The living cost is totally harsh, however.