Six years might seem like long enough for the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson to master the melodious Baltimore accent, but please take into account that he spends maybe half the year here.

So there’s really nothing wrong with his recent feeble attempts at sounding local.

View post on Instagram
 

Nobody should give him crap for this. He’s got a point about his upbringing. Maybe it’s not even possible to go from a Floridian accent to a Baltimore one. I would call a linguistics professor to find out the answer, but I assume they all have real work to do and this simply is not that important.

Because much of the fault here lies with Complex! The words Lamar was given do not lend themselves to proper Baltimore-ification. They’re too short. Yes, people say “you” in a distinct way here, but to experience the full glory of the accent you must identify words and phrases that utilize its entire spectrum. This accent needs space to unfurl.

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

One time I was driving and listening to a sporting event on the radio. It happened to be sponsored by “wells farGOEHHH” and “heWM dePOEEEHHHH.” I almost drove off the road. The pronunciation of all these words, in quick succession, being read by a local radio voice interrupting the purposely bland Announcer Guy that had been calling the game ... it was majestic.

Here’s the crazy thing: All Complex really had to do to let Lamar find his footing with this accent was give him the chance to pronounce the name of his own teammate: Odafe Oweh.

Seriously. Find the best Baltimore speaker you know and ask them this trivia question: Which Ravens outside linebacker recently had his fifth-year option picked up?

“OEAUHHHdaFAAY OEAUHHwayy.”

It’s beautiful.

The Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.

But while we’re here let’s take time to relive the best Baltimore Accent-Sports Name collab of all time.

Watch on YouTube

Chris Korman

chris.korman@thebaltimorebanner.com

Chris Korman

Chris Korman oversees The Baltimore Banner's sports coverage.

More from Chris Korman

Lamar Jackson dashes through Chiefs defense to catch his own batted pass

Chiefs’ Travis Kelce and Ravens’ Justin Tucker have Bad Blood in warmup kerfuffle

More From The Banner

Maryland hospitals took money from poor patients. Why haven’t they paid them back?

Joanna Meade reads aloud love letters from the 1920's in the sun room of her home on February 27, 2024. The letters were found inside of a wall during a renovation.

Secret in the walls: Hidden letters reveal love, lust, scandal in 1920s Baltimore society

Illustration shows black geometric fragments falling from the sky, partially obscuring the faint outline of Key Bridge central span. In the background a sunrise starts to illuminate the darkness.

Grieving my brother and the Key Bridge

Sheila Dixon, a ‘filthy’ street and residents who want politicians to put up or shut up