I first became aware of my distinct manner of speaking when I attended suburban public high school. The two communities that this school served are both largely upper-middle-class, but have decidedly different flavors. One is considered "new money" which is laughable as its most grand estates are from post-Revolutionary war times. It is almost entirely residential with a few churches, a post office, a WAWA (if from Philly, you'll know what that is) and a few medical professional offices. It is a mix of Protestants, Jews, and Catholics (based on the houses of worship in town.) Plenty of folks I knew growing up in Wallingford had close family ties to the City - parents, grandparents etc.

The other community includes within its confines a small liberal-arts (accents on the liberal) college, and a number of quaint small businesses. An outsider would take a gander at property values and percentages of Volvos and Audis amidst the good people of Swarthmore and assume it is"moneyed" ; the gentle townsfolk prefer to think of themselves as...Thinkers. Professionals. Non-Plebian. I doubt there is a single sole in that town who could name any driver on the NASCAR cicuit. But I betcha they surely could advise you on the best brand of organic beef or imported cheese at the newly-renovated Food Co-Op. 

Since they do have the benefit of a "business district" and all the requisite gatherinig places, there is a stronger sense of "community" there. Almost a small-town feel, rather than an endless sprawl of surburban tracts. There are some Jewish residents although they have to worship in the neighboring town. There is NO Catholic church pesent within city limits. It is the quintessential "WASP" town. If you didn't know, the term WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant) was coined by a Philadelphia Magazine writer to identify the upper-class preppies of the Main Line. This is important in my story. Why? True blue WASP's have no aural identification to Philadelphia or anywhere on the East Coast, for that matter. They almost have a faux-English-ish accent. Not unlike Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, etc.

So, when I switched schools and had my first encounter with Swarthmorean teens...they all asked me, "So, did you move here from South Philly?" (slight level of superiority implied in ther tone.) No, I replied. I have lived in Wallingford (a mere mile or two away!) most of my life.

Then the commentary got more direct. And insulting. And embarrassing.

I cannot recall a specific critique but they all had something to do with my voice and accent being "funny" and not funny in a charming way...it was hinted at that somehow my Wallingford-via-a Mother-from Northeast Philly-accent belied my actual intellectual capabilities. (All these Swarthmore hosers were in honors classes with me.)

I am also cursed with less-than-perfect hearing. That, combined with the Northest Philly cultural forces in my family, propels my voice to higher-than-WASPishly accepted decibel levels.

Sidebar: If you are trying to figure out this whole Northeast Philly thing - one easy clue is that growing up, my mom lived a few blocks away from Sylvester Stallone. So mix up "Rocky" with a bit of Fran Drescher from "The Nanny" and you have...my blessed family intonation! Its an audible "delicacy" that's for sure!

I still have that very distinct sound today. Its a big reason I never pursued a career in broadcast communication, even though I was really "into it" vis-a-vis my college radio station.

Fast forward to today.

Tonight I was scheduled to attend a marketing focus group. $75 for 2 hours of my time! Yeah!

When the marketeers screen for group memembers, they ask a number of questions to get a diverse group of participants who have in common something relevant to the study. Tonight's study was about Sit-coms, and since I noted to the screener that my favorite tv show is "Arrested Development", I qualified.

Most of the people in the group were extremely gregarious and talkative. It was revealed that most were working people; middle class; salt-of-the-earth folks or whatever you want to call it. In an irony of ironies, I was the "token" overeducated wonk in the bunch.

As each person took his or her turn to offer an assessment of the study topic the stereotypical Blues Brothers/ Bears Superfan/ DITKA/Daley Chicago-ease began to flood the room. Personally I find it very appealing. But it is distinct to my ears. Maybe I am just aware of it due to my own self-consciousness.

The group moderator got a bit frustrated with some of the participants as they were vague and inarticulate in their answers.

When my turn came I inhaled deeply and then began to offer a critique that could have been published in TV guide. Maybe even Entertainment Weekly! 

When another opportunity to speak arose I offered some suggestions for the topic of scrutiny (a sitcom pilot.) One of the Chicago "gals" noted, "Wow YOU should be a TV writer!" Others merely rolled their eyes at my obvious wonkisms, but no matter. Northeast Philly-tainted or not, tonight I realized that comparative to others in the group, I was quite an articulate woman. Albeit a nerdy one.