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I think television has had a massive effect on the overall, "average" American accent. The stereotypical Boston accent can still be found in Massachusetts, but
by thomascgalvin 3y ago
I think television has had a massive effect on the overall, "average" American accent. The stereotypical Boston accent can still be found in Massachusetts, but it isn't nearly as common as you might think.
Similarly, the thick Southern drawl is still a thing in some places, but when I travel it seems that a light twang is more common.
This might also be due to geographic mobility, but I think media is a more likely culprit.
- seanmcdirmid 3y agoLast time I visited San Antonio (20 years ago), I had trouble understanding the server asking me if I wanted a coke with my food. The drawl was just too strong for me, it wasn’t as neutral as (relatively) next door Austin at all.
- fmajid 3y agoI’ve always found even the strongest Texas or Arkansas accents intelligible, unlike some regional UK accents. The US used to be more varied but being one national market for media and immigration has had a homogenizing influence. It’s not simply a question of age, some parts of the US are 500 years old, and in some ways it’s British English that has drifted, not the other way round.
- drewcoo 3y ago> I think television has had a massive effect It started with radio. With national networks. Broadcast TV continued that, but cable meant TV no longer controlled by local folks with their local accents and opinions. TV anchors all learn to spike with a bland accent. And now Sinclair's "local" stations have tightly scripted news, so local news is becoming more of a simulacrum of national news. https://deadspin.com/how-americas-largest-local-tv-owner-turned-its-news-anc-1824233490 https://deadspin.com/how-americas-largest-local-tv-owner-tur...
- nunez 3y agoits plenty common in western Mass