Guest
I had a film company in the New York area in 1975 and we all decided to move to the small town of Camden Maine. It was an era of “back to the land.“ We thought it would be a great place to raise our children. In fact it was. I met other creative artists who had moved to the state including this guy – a spectacular storyteller who although not born in Maine, adopted Maine's character and culture. This is Marshall Dodge (1935–1982), an American humorist famous in Maine for his storytelling, particularly his creation and performance of “Bert and I“ stories. His stories are a collection of humorous tales set in Maine, showcasing the unique culture and accent of the region. The stories became very popular, known for their dry humor and the distinctive Maine accents that Dodge used in their telling. One of the most famous lines from these stories is, “You can't get there from here,“ which is often used to describe the rural and isolated nature of much of Maine. Maine humor is characterized as dry, understated and self-deprecating. It's deeply rooted in the state's history and culture, drawing heavily on the experiences and attitudes of its people, many of whom have a long tradition of farming, fishing, and living in remote, rural areas. Here are some characteristics commonly associated with Maine humor: Maine humor often involves subtle, deadpan delivery. The humor might be delivered in a serious tone making it even funnier when the punchline lands. Maine humor involves making light of the hardships that come with living in a rugged and remote state. There's a sense of pride in being able to laugh at oneself and one's circumstances. Maine jokes and stories involve practical, everyday situations. There's a sense of authenticity and realism to the humor, reflecting the no-nonsense attitude of many Mainers. Maine's accent has unique characteristics. The use of “Ayuh“ for “Yes“ or “Yeah.“ This word is often drawn out and nasal. The use of “wicked“ as an intensifier, such as “It's wicked cold out there!“ The dropping or softening of the 'r' sound at the end of words. For example, “car“ might sound more like “cah“. However, unlike other New England accents, many Mainers do pronounce the “r“ sound at the end of words. Certain vowel sounds are elongated. For example, “there“ might sound more like “they-ah.“ The “o“ sound in words can be pronounced more like “uh,“ so “home“ might sound like “huhm.“ The use of unique regional vocabulary. For example, “downeast“ or “down East“ to refer to the easternmost coastal areas of the state. The Maine accent, like many regional accents, is distinctive due to its unique pronunciation and vocabulary, which have been influenced by the area's history, geography, and culture. Marshall Dodge's storytelling and performances were influential in popularizing and preserving the humor and culture of Maine, and his work is still appreciated today. Dodge tragically died in a hit-and-run accident in Hawaii in 1982. I would like to thank the advertisers who place their ads on this video. Bangor to Bar Harbor. Rome Maine. Portland to Bar Harbor. Lincoln Maine. Harpswell maine. Pemaquid beach. Brooklin Maine. Best Maine hotel. best Maine beach. David Hoffman Filmmaker
