"The US is home to 30 major accents, ranging from the Southern drawl to the classic Boston twang. However, how these accents are changing over time has remained a mystery until now. To get to the bottom of it, the researchers surveyed 3,042 US adults. The participants were asked whether there are words, phrases, or speech habits associated with their region that they use less often, hear less frequently, or feel are gradually disappearing from everyday conversation."
"'Dialects rooted in very specific geographies - Appalachian, Southern, Louisiana - sit right at the top of the "increasingly retired" list,' The Word Finder explained. 'All are unmistakable dialects with long cultural histories. 'But the fact that they are being used less in everyday language suggests that strong identity markers are what are driving people to tone down the accents when they move, switch jobs, or interact with non-locals.'"
Survey responses from 3,042 U.S. adults indicate that Appalachian, Southern, and Louisiana accents are at highest risk of disappearing from everyday speech. The New York City, New England, and Philadelphia accents appear less likely to be dropped but are still considered at risk. Dialects rooted in specific geographies are being used less as people move, change jobs, or interact with non-locals, prompting individuals to tone down strong identity markers. Media portrayals of certain dialects may help preserve them even as everyday usage softens. Participants reported using regional words, phrases, and speech habits less often or hearing them less frequently.
Read at Mail Online
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