Reasons to loVermont
For anyone who’s ever been there and loved it.
For anyone who knows that the ‘t’ is silent, that one area code is enough for us, that billboards do not fly, that imitation brand cheese, ice cream or maple syrup is unacceptable.
And for anyone who feels a soft spot for the good old Green Mountain State.
Anyone have a favorite iconic Vermonter?
I’ve named a few on here already…who’s your fave?
im not from vermont and i dont live there but it has always been my favorite place. i go every summer and come home with the accent. thanks for this!
You’re very welcome!
Reason #30: Burton Snowboards
Chances are if you’re a snowboarder or a skier (or know anything about snowboarding or skiing) you’re familiar with Burton Snowboards. Burton is now the largest snowboard brand in the world. One guess where they’re based….you got it - VT! Burlington to be specific.
Jake Burton Carpenter started the company in 1977 and created the “Backhill” a wooden board with single straps for bindings and a rope attached to the front.
Since then Burton snowboards have been sold worldwide in over 4,000 stores.
Burton also campaigned ski areas to allow snowboarders to use their mountains, the first being Suicide Six in Pomfret, VT (also home of the world’s first ropetow) with Stratton, Jay Peak and Stowe to follow.
Sadly, in 2008, Burton ceased its manufacturing of boards in Vermont and moved production to Austria due to high costs of manufacturing in the U.S.
However, Burton still serves as an example of one of the many Vermont businesses who have created quality products and achieved worldwide success. The world of snowboarding would without a doubt be very different if it wasn’t for Burton.
Where are y’all from?
And if you’re not a VT native, where’s your favorite place to visit?
Addition to #14: The Accent
Awesome article (with videos) about the Vermont accent.
By Dan Bolles
Say What? A video exploration of Vermont-speak
The Vermont dialect has a few distinct characteristics.
Fronting: This refers to the flattening of certain vowel sounds and is most noticeable in words that normally have an “ow” sound. It can also give one-syllable words two syllables. For example,”cow” becomes “kee-ow.” (Go ahead, say it out loud. You know you want to.)
Raising: This elongates certain vowel sounds, especially the “I” sound. So, for example, “kite” becomes “koit.” It works with other vowel sounds, too. Like the word “bad,” which gets stretched out like “baahd.”
Glottal Stop: Probably the best known aspect of the Vermont accent, and the most pervasive, even among flatlanders who, over time, can unconsciously adopt a slight Vermont twang of their own. The glottal stop drops the “T” from certain words. Some classic examples: the town of Milton becomes “Mil-uhn” and Vermont becomes “Vermon’.”
This video probably has the best examples of genuine Vermont accents that I’ve ever seen:
