Dialect cheat sheet for Lorelei's speech pattern that I keep on hand when writing her. She won't be officially appearing in the main game for a while, but has already debuted in side material and also the parts of the Free Time Hub that deal with future chapters where she'll be present.
Lorelei Guerrier (Chicago/Illinois/Great Lakes region)
GENERIC SLANG
Emphasized use of "BY" (ie I'm spending the night by Joey's house)
Go by” instead of "go to" (ie go by Jane's)
Over by there
Ending a sentence with a preposition (where’s that at?, wanna come with?)
Quarter till = quarter to, quarter until, quarter of
Distance is measured in blocks or time. Never miles.
gym shoes = tennis shoes/sneakers
pop = soda
lightning bug = firefly
"Guy" - I have a guy, I ain't your guy, what's up, guy, what's up, G, “you guys”
dibs = leaving junk in shoveled out car slot in the snow
prairie = open lot
gangway = path alongside the house, alley-like paths between buildings
parkway = ground between the sidewalk and street
kitty-corner = diagonal placement
washroom = restroom
garden apartment = basement apartment
coach house = backyard apartment, ADU, carriage house "granny pod"
The "L" = elevated train line (taking the L, ride the L)
"Bogus" - Man, that was bogus!
Calling casual food establishments “joints.” - (ie pizza joint)
a beef - italian beef sandwich (“sweet or hot?” and “wet or dry?”) served dry, wet or dipped, is a staple. no ketchup on a hot dog.
dogs (for Chicago dogs),
the hawk wind - cold wind off Lake Michigan
Jewel bag = plastic grocery bag
"Ope!" - Whenever you need to just slide past someone real quick?
“Gapers’ block/delay” - slowing down to stare at accident, rubbernecking
Yeah, no or No, yeah
Yeah, no, yeah (or for sure) means definitely/I hear what you’re saying/I agree
decent, real decent = great, fantastic
grammar school = grade school
"hinky" - ie dude with a crooked smile or missing a few might be said to have "some real hinky teeth"
PRONOUNCIATIONS (use very sparingly)
pronounce "th" like "d" (dose guys over der)
frunchroom/fronchroom = front room (sitting room/living room at front of house)
Also add “s” at the end of lots of words. Along w/ removing a lot of “ing’s” (go’n to da Jewels)
Possessive versions of proper nouns, especially for store names. E.g. it's not Aldi it's Aldi's it's not Meijer it's Meijer's
Putting "the" in front of places. - (ie Did you get that at the Target?)
Je'et? - did ya eat?
skeechin’ or skitchin’ = sliding after car by holding back bumper
CHICAGO AREA
Out west, up north, down south, over east
“Head toward the lake” - going east
"downtown" (the loop or mag mile)
Chicago = the City (to natives), the Lake = Lake Michigan
The Tri-State (e-way = expressway)
Clark and Lake (intersection), 51st and Pulaski, 39th and Harlem (numbered street first), State and Division (prominent street first), Hundred and fifty ninth street, Chicago and Halsted
Eden’s, Dan Ryan, Eisenhower (Ike), Stevenson, Kennedy, Congress for parts of expressway
viaduct = overpass
“The Trib” (The Chicago Tribune) and “The Sun-Times” (Chicago Sun-Times)
Today’s Chicago Woman — absolutely not TCW
older/more traditional names for things (Sears Tower, Marshall Field's, Old Comiskey, New Comiskey, LSD, John Hancock, Congress Avenue, etc)
“lake shore” or LSD
If your character takes public transportation, he’d be specific as to the bus route or L line: “I took the green line to United Center.”
Many things are referred to by appearance. For instance Cloud Gate is the Bean. The circle interchange is sometimes the spaghetti bowl.
The famous local pizza chain Lou Malnati's is usually referred to as simply Lou's.
The Post Office - giant building at the end of the Eisenhower
“I live in Wrigley” instead of Wrigleyville. Jefferson Park = Jeff Park. Lollapalooza gets shortened to Lolla.
CURSES
(friggen) jagoff (jag, jagbag)
Goofy Ass Motherfucker/ goofy ass
ass wipe
schmuck
piece of work
bozo = kinder version of clown, affectionate
You know that guy's a Cubs fan. (typical North Side resident)