I'll try.
Beaver Valley (where I grew up) has a lot of locals who speak Pittsburghese. Find a translator to help you understand. The language is a combination of Appalachian Hillbilly and Pennsylvanian. No good asking the Site Coordinator. He's a local too.
Here are a few examples:
Mahl = mile There is no "s" on the plural form. Example: The speed limit on site is fy mahl 'n arr. (five miles an hour)
Arr = hour
Still = steel - the area's biggest export. Also the flavor of the local tapwater.
Ahya = Ohio - the river that runs past the plant and the state just a few miles to the east.
Ahrn = Iron - The element Fe, or the short name for Iron City Beer. Both have the same flavor. This is not to be confused with steel, which is an alloy of Iron, Chromium, Carbon, and other stuff processed in a furnace. But the yellow tapwater can cause some confusion. If there is a layer of foam on top, it's the tapwater.
Hoagie = A long sandwich known in other parts of the country as a sub, grinder, or roll wedge.
Mahntneer = Mountaineer - the name of a race track / casino complex in West Virginia a few miles from the plant.
ERF (rhymes with turf) = Emergency Response Facility.
ERFlings = People who work in the ERF
Fahr = fire
Dahn =down
Tahn = town
Dahntahn = downtown
Haahs = House
Maahs = Mouse
Haahsmaahs = Housemouse.
Fahrhaahs = firehouse
Yinz = a local pronunciation of the rural Tennesee contraction You'uns, which means "you ones" - ALWAYS used as the plural form of "You".
Worsh = wash
Aht = out
Aht Aht = Out for a date, dinner, party, or other social engagement - as opposed to going out to a store or for a walk. Example: Are yinz goin aht aht, er just aht.
Buhruh = borough - a small division of the county with its own taxes, which will be deducted from your paycheck without exception, discussion, exemption or appeal. If you work there, you'll pay for the priviledge.
There are other things you need to know as well if you want to be safe:
Have good brakes on your car. Hills are steep and winding near the plant.
There are more deer per square mile in this area than most of the rest of the country.
It is frequently foggy near the plant due to the river and the five cooling towers. (There is a huge fossil plant next door.)
Beware of the "Pittsburgh Left"!! This practice can kill you if you don't know about it.
If you are stopped at a red light, and the car coming the opposite way is signalling a left turn (known locally as a lefhan turn), he wll go immediately when the light turns green. Even though you have the right of way, it is common for people to allow the first car or two to go ahead so as to keep them from tying up traffic. It has gotten to a point that they expect this. So if you go as soon as the light turns, without allowing them to turn left, they may very well hit you or you will hit them. Not everyone does this, but you have to be sure they are going to yield before you enter the intersection.
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