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, “Did you just say ‘caw-fee’”? 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.
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 or Nebraskans are all redneck cowboys chewing tobacco and worship the Huskers.
When people hear New York, 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.
Them: Where are you from?
Me: New York.
Them: Oh I’ve never been to New York City!
Me: I didn’t say New York City. I said I was from New York. The State.
Them: Oh, what’s the difference?
Me: Ugh!
I grew up in Middletown, New York. It’s in the Hudson Valley 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 for you to look at.
Middletown is also in Orange County. That’s in New York. It’s not in California. It is also home to the Orange County Choppers. 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 of changing names in the state and across the country. The next town over from Middletown is Goshen, which is actually named after the Land of Goshen in Egypt. Still, Orange County’s proper place is in New York, not some other state that came after us.
Unfortunately, the map below is how everyone else in the world sees New York State. Yes, I know the person who made the map misspelled non-existent.
Also, if you don’t know how to pronounce words correctly, learn. Stop saying the name of New York’s capital wrong. Albany pronounced all-bin-y or awl-bin-y. Say it correctly and know where it is.
Since we are on the subject of proper pronunciation, The Guardian has a new pronunciation guide to help you speak correctly.
Do you know the size of New York State?
The Adirondack Park is larger than any of the seven smallest states in the United States: Hawaii, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Delaware, Rhode Island, and New Jersey. It would take these five national parks added together to equal the size of the Adirondack Park: Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Everglades, and Great Smoky National Parks.
New York State is actually quite beautiful. There is a diversity of flora, fauna, culture and lifestyles. For the sake of every New Yorker’s sanity, never assume, “I’m from New York,” means New York City. You’re just going to make them want to stab and/or shoot you.
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