Started By
Message
Are southern accents becoming extinct or mellowing out?
Posted on 12/17/14 at 8:46 am
Posted on 12/17/14 at 8:46 am
I moved to Georgia in 1976 from Ohio.
When I first moved here, every white person I met had a definitive southern accent. And I couldn't understand a single word that a black person said...it was an entirely different language.
Now, I barely notice a difference. Some people talk with a mild accent, but it's not difficult at all to follow. I can't tell whether it's because I've been here for so long and I've learned the accent or because language has become more homogenized due to television.
I definitely think southern accents have mellowed out over the past 40 years.
When I first moved here, every white person I met had a definitive southern accent. And I couldn't understand a single word that a black person said...it was an entirely different language.
Now, I barely notice a difference. Some people talk with a mild accent, but it's not difficult at all to follow. I can't tell whether it's because I've been here for so long and I've learned the accent or because language has become more homogenized due to television.
I definitely think southern accents have mellowed out over the past 40 years.
17
Posted on 12/17/14 at 8:54 am to samson'sseed
quote:
Now i barely notice a difference.
Probably bc you've lived there for 40 years.
Posted on 12/17/14 at 9:00 am to samson'sseed
Very observant of you, actually.
Yes, the Southern accent is becoming gradually less pronounced, as noted in this study by Robin Dodsworth of UNC: LINK
(Couldn't find the actual publication, but I linked to a Daily Mail article about it).
The Southern accent is fading, but that isn't a big deal IMO. We can't control it, it is a psychological process.
ETA: the study hasn't been published yet, but it is forthcoming.
Dodsworth, Robin and Mary Kohn. Dialect reallocation in Southern U.S. English. M. Putz, Monika Reif, and J. Robinson (eds.) Variation in Language and Language Use: Linguistic, Socio-Cultural, and Cognitive Perspectives. Frankfurt: Peter Lang. 16-35.
Yes, the Southern accent is becoming gradually less pronounced, as noted in this study by Robin Dodsworth of UNC: LINK
(Couldn't find the actual publication, but I linked to a Daily Mail article about it).
The Southern accent is fading, but that isn't a big deal IMO. We can't control it, it is a psychological process.
ETA: the study hasn't been published yet, but it is forthcoming.
Dodsworth, Robin and Mary Kohn. Dialect reallocation in Southern U.S. English. M. Putz, Monika Reif, and J. Robinson (eds.) Variation in Language and Language Use: Linguistic, Socio-Cultural, and Cognitive Perspectives. Frankfurt: Peter Lang. 16-35.
This post was edited on 12/17/14 at 9:01 am
Posted on 12/17/14 at 9:09 am to samson'sseed
quote:
I moved to Georgia in 1976 from Ohio.
Which part of Georgia did you move to?
If one had moved to the Atlanta area nearly 40 years ago, I'm sure they'd see a noticeable difference in accents between now and then.
Posted on 12/17/14 at 9:49 am to samson'sseed
3 reasons:
1. living there so long makes the accent un-noticable (like going smell blind to pet odor)
2. mass media homogenizes cultures over time
3. Over the past 20 years, there have been massive migrations of northerners (particularly from the Rust Belt) to the South in places like Atlanta, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Houston, Nashville, ect. There's also been a huge migration from the NE to Florida, Northern Virginia, and the Carolinas. This dilutes the accents of those living there over time.
Don't believe me? Go to Ascension Parish.
Anyone over 60 talks like a coonass. Those under 25 either mimic blacks or talk like they're from rural Ohio.
1. living there so long makes the accent un-noticable (like going smell blind to pet odor)
2. mass media homogenizes cultures over time
3. Over the past 20 years, there have been massive migrations of northerners (particularly from the Rust Belt) to the South in places like Atlanta, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Houston, Nashville, ect. There's also been a huge migration from the NE to Florida, Northern Virginia, and the Carolinas. This dilutes the accents of those living there over time.
Don't believe me? Go to Ascension Parish.
Anyone over 60 talks like a coonass. Those under 25 either mimic blacks or talk like they're from rural Ohio.
Posted on 12/17/14 at 10:15 am to samson'sseed
Those with southern accents just don't notice them. But all you have to do is listen to yourself on video.....dang I sound like a redneck hick 
Posted on 12/17/14 at 10:17 am to Old Sarge
Never had one. Apparently I sound like I'm from the midwest 
Posted on 12/17/14 at 10:18 am to samson'sseed
Only in Atlanta. They've done a study on this.
Posted on 12/17/14 at 10:24 am to samson'sseed
Mine will never mellow out; I've tried. No matter where I live or how long I'm there, it's with me til the end. ... I think it's more of a city/rural thing. I was born & raised in southern Arky in a small town surrounded by a rather rural area. That shite never leaves. ... I adore southern accents & wouldn't want to get rid of mine, but that southern rural strong twang sneaks out every now & then, especially when pissed or buzzed, & I can't control it.
... I adore southern accents & wouldn't want to get rid of mine, but that southern rural strong twang sneaks out every now & then, especially when pissed or buzzed, & I can't control it. This post was edited on 12/17/14 at 10:25 am
Posted on 12/17/14 at 10:31 am to Arkla Missy
Now I kinda want to hear your voice
Wait, that sounded kinda creepy
I love accents, though
Wait, that sounded kinda creepy
I love accents, though
Posted on 12/17/14 at 11:09 am to TbirdSpur2010
Haha!! Not creepy, Tbird. I've often wondered how people on here sound, especially speaking some of the crap they type. ... I've been told I sound like this one speaking - not singing, but damn, I wish I had her singing voice. ... East TX, where she's from & my region of Arky, most of the southern third of the state, have very similar accents/dialect - for good or bad.
LINK
... I've been told I sound like this one speaking - not singing, but damn, I wish I had her singing voice. ... East TX, where she's from & my region of Arky, most of the southern third of the state, have very similar accents/dialect - for good or bad. LINK
Posted on 12/17/14 at 11:17 am to Arkla Missy
quote:
I've been told I sound like this one speaking
Me likey!
Showed us "yours," so here's mine, I guess
Podcast StrykerAg10 and I do every now and then for tAggyArk.
Posted on 12/17/14 at 11:28 am to TbirdSpur2010
That's you, Tbird??? Wow, you sound so professional & "non-Texan"!!! You really sound great, though. ... You should think about a tv commentator/anchor career. You'd be awesome! ... How'd you get that "no accent" accent having grown up in TX?!?!?
You really sound great, though. ... You should think about a tv commentator/anchor career. You'd be awesome! ... How'd you get that "no accent" accent having grown up in TX?!?!? 
Posted on 12/17/14 at 11:28 am to Old Sarge
I don't have an accent until I'm drunk or really mad. Can't figure that one out.
Posted on 12/17/14 at 11:29 am to Rebelgator
quote:
I don't have an accent until I'm drunk or really mad. Can't figure that one out.
Yep, that's when my twang is at its worst.
Posted on 12/17/14 at 11:32 am to samson'sseed
I think all regional accents are melding into a vanilla American manner of speaking because of television, movies and social media. Even people from England find the American accent easy to mimic because they're exposed to it so much.
Posted on 12/17/14 at 11:43 am to Arkla Missy
Haha thanks!
Well, I didn't really grow up in TX the whole time (military brat), but honestly I just speak the same way my parents do. My mom was born on the east coast and claims the midwest (Michigan) as home, but even though my dad was born and raised in Bryan/College Station, he never picked up a Texan accent (although most of my uncles did--weird ).
quote:
How'd you get that "no accent" accent having grown up in TX?!?!?
Well, I didn't really grow up in TX the whole time (military brat), but honestly I just speak the same way my parents do. My mom was born on the east coast and claims the midwest (Michigan) as home, but even though my dad was born and raised in Bryan/College Station, he never picked up a Texan accent (although most of my uncles did--weird
).Posted on 12/17/14 at 12:01 pm to TbirdSpur2010
quote:
My mom was born on the east coast and claims the midwest (Michigan) as home, but even though my dad was born and raised in Bryan/College Station, he never picked up a Texan accent
Ahh ... That explains it. You do have more of that Midwest sound, which is great for tv/radio or whatever. ... I can't stand to hear my voice on a recording. I always think, Do I REALLY sound like that???
Posted on 12/17/14 at 1:02 pm to samson'sseed
quote:
I moved to Georgia in 1976 from Ohio.
So you're a damn yankee. Gotcha.
The reason our accents probably seem more mellow to you these days is because you've acclimated yourself to our various vernaculars. You've probably adopted some of our regional idioms and accent into your own daily verbiage and diction.
Posted on 12/17/14 at 2:11 pm to samson'sseed
Not up here in East TN.
Page 1 of 3
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News