We had a girl at school whos family left for america when she was in the 2nd year at high school, she returned for a visit 2 years later and had a american acce

We had a girl at school whos family left for america when she was in the 2nd year at high school, she returned for a visit 2 years later and had a american accent. Two factors I believe that influence accents: 1) Climate - humidity mostly influencial - Manchester having a more nasal accent and also more rain than most parts of the UK being one important factor. 2) What we hear - more so younger age and I would say upto the age of 25 you are still influenced, maybe later or maybe younger for some people. But certianly what you hear when growing up, upto a point has a influence upon you. Call it the memeaccenting if you like, younger you are the more influenced you are. So even if they all had the same accents, the enviroment would be a factor and over time and influences external (America is not just legacy British people, germanic and others I'm sure above and beyond natives at the start). So can see over time it more a factor than anything for the changes, but in a World which has reduced travel from years, to months to weeks to days and hours, we have a more blured line ahead of us when it comes to accents in the not too distant future. Beyond spelling though, how would you define the differences between an American and a British accent as in some parts of America the difference is not that much in comparision to some parts of Britian. But I'm sure somebody will just say it is all down to dental care and as a British person I too will laugh at that one :).