Do New Yorkers really talk like this?

I rarely here that expression in NY, but I don’t find it odd. That doesn’t really answer your question. If a young person said it I would find it more unusual. I had not even noticed they used the expression, and I watch the show every week.

What’s been bothering me is some of the other NY shows that recently started have some horrible, not accurate NYC accents. Blue Bloods the accent is fine. But, there are two other new cop shows based in NY, and several of the actors are definitely not from there, and trying too hard to do the accent.

Oh, it just occurred to me that forthwith might be more commonly used as legal jargon, so since the show is lawyers and cops it might make sense. Maybe it is more about that than it being placed in NY? Not sure.

Yes, they do that. Id est: ”10–85 forthwith!”
Notwithstanding the fact that they are New Yorkers, I doubt they usually yell it though.

If they really do talk like that, why don’t you hear it on Law and Order or CSI New York? Sorry if I sound stupid. It just seems so odd hearing those words come out of a beat cops mouth. I thought it was odd on NYPD Blue too. I was wondering if maybe they just have the same writer.

It’s not a NY thing. I’ve heard it all of my life in the South, especially the old-money wealthy. Of course it’s more like fawuth weeith.

That really does sound more like a writer than a beat cop.

I was born and raised in NY (not Manhattan specifically) and taught in Brooklyn for over 10 years and I’ve never heard a working class person, cop or otherwise, use that word.

Obviously it’s more likely to hear it uttered by lawyers, journalists or college profs.

I honest don’t recall hearing it on NYPD Blue. And do you remember which character said it on Blue Bloods? If it was the Commissioners son (the rookie, not the detective) that would be more plausible since he graduated from Harvard.

If that word came out of the mouth of Nick Turturro’s
character, that’s downright preposterous :) as a matter of fact, his accent and total manner of expressing himself is quite typical of many NY beat cops. He was born and raised in Bklyn. so is the quintessential working class NY type of guy and frequently cast as such.

Wahlberg’s accent is more akin to working class Boston but it can sorta pass for NY if you’re not that fussy :)

@everphebe

I just read your link and will amend my statement slightly.

There are specific Radio Call terms which different agencies teach all personnel to use.

If that word is part of the official required protocol then that makes sense. I don’t know that that’s the case for NY City cops. But if it is, then it makes sense regardless of which cop is saying it over the radio.

But yelling it out in a moment of urgency, people tend to revert to their regular speech patterns.

Very interesting Q though. Next time I hear it, it will most likely stick out like a sore thumb. Ha ha.

It was the guy that is training the commissioners rookie son. The one who was also in NYPD Blue. They also had him using words like that on NYPD Blue as well and I thought it was odd then. If toy watch Blue Bloods regularly, watch for it. A whole range of characters use it.

That is Nick Turturro. I’ll definitely be watching for it :)

Why would you need to call a bus for a gunshot victim?

@breedmitch, they always call an ambulance a bus.

My dad, a retired nypd cop, used to say “henceforth and forthwith” all the time. He was an eccentric character, though.

No. But you can tell what borough someone is from by their accent. Really. You can.

^ Very true. Hell, if you’re really good you can break it down to a neighborhood.

The specific accent has a lot to do with the specific population that wound up settling there. Puerto Rican, Italian, etc. Manhattan has one of the more neutral accents of the five burroughs.