Why is the southern accent and way of life diminishing?
408198
because, honestly, to the rest of the country, the southern accent sounds uncultured, unintelligent, and very intolerant
912332
It probably was a product of laziness at first but now, pronouncing your Ts sounds...like...cultured, and almost condescending. Only the most educated people will pronounce their Ts. I know, it's weird, but it's become culturally acceptable for the average American not to pronounce them.
609745
There were less workers in the south... also this led to controversies in the north. People thought african americans were stealing jobs from whites in the north
1101995
i dont think that everyone in the south is dumber than the north, because it depends about your brain and determination. Maybe there are just more smart and determinined people in the north than the south!
61738
You are correct that there is a stereotype of racism in the South. I think that racism is more woven into the fabric of society in the South. In the Mid-Atlantic region there are racists as well, although part of what you are running into is that you are probably in a more urban area. There you see more division between the "urban culture" and others. You see a lot more Black activism in the urban areas, and there are a number of people who advocate for positions against White people. \n\nThe other aspect of moving from the South to the North is that you came from a place where their was more of a community feel to it, and now you are in a more urban area where lots of people are "transplants" there and there isn't the same sense of shared values. So there is a lot more open discussion of differences.\n\nWhich brings me to my last point: In the South we didn't discuss our differences openly. You smiled and then stabbed people in the back! In the North they talk out loud about stuff.... :o)\n\nOf course, one should never be surprised by what people do who claim to be Christian. Remember the Inquisition? Lots of wars have been fought and people tortured and killed in the name of Jesus! Most Christians, of course, are good, peace loving people.
710990
Not sure...but it seems that Americans like Australian accents....don't think it's a good thing actually :/
576617
Because its the same language....English.\nTo hear English as it might have been spoken a couple of hundred years ago you would have to search in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States.\nHear there are secluded pockets of people speaking archaic dialect of English.\n\nThe English spoken in England and the English spoken in America probably has fewer differences  than say...\n\nEnglish as spoken in Boston Massachusetts.\nand\nEnglish as spoken in Mobile Alabama....maybe fifty years ago....before regional accents started going extinct.\n\nand there is not nearly enough difference between the English in England and English in U.S.A to warrant a new name.\nand if American English was called something else.\nwhats the sense?\nits still English\n\nnote: couple of links provided...this link\nhttp://www.evolpub.com/Americandialects/AmDialLnx.html\nhas links to articles concerning the features of regional accents in U.S.\nI.e...New york accent/Boston Accent....\nvermont accent..."ya cahnt get theah from heah"\ntranslation..."you can't get there from here".\nsuch a famous line old guys in Vermont proabably say it to tourists for tips:):)\nsecond link\nhttp://www.wvculture.org/history/journal_wvh/wvh30-2.html\nis about the Appalachian Dialect of English.\nonce considered substandard...now being viewed as archaic and worthy of study
657304
I'm guessing it's because people from all over the world (Europe initially) came to America, so the accent got diluted.
230982
no you're right, there isn't such diversity in accent, yet there is a variety in slang used in different regions. Maybe it is because it is not such an old country and regional accents haven't had enough time to develop
713631
There can be numerous reasons:\na) isolation. When a group is very isolated from the main population for a few decades, their accent may remain the same whilst those around them change, or vice versa.\n\nb) politics. A group may begin to feel as if they need to assert their identity, so within the same community, people may deliberately begin to pronounce words differently. It's like a linguistic way of saying, "I'm with these guys, and you're not." (A good example was Martha's Vineyard in the US, in about the 1980s).\n\nc) ethnic influence. A group may be made up of mixed ethnicities, who in learning the language of the country they have moved to, carry over aspects of their own language, such as pronunciation or grammar. ("He walks away" vs "He walk away", "She is gone" vs "She be gone").\n\nd) socio-economics. Those lower on the social ladder, such as the middle class, may (over) emulate others in more socially prestigious positions. In exactly the same, but directly opposite way, those in much lower social positions, such as the working class, may assert their identity by deliberately choosing their own accent or dialect, and refusing to emulate the higher classes.\n\ne) media. We are going to be influenced, however slightly, by the type of language we encounter in our daily lives on the radio or TV, which in England can be a mix of BBC English (RP) and Standard American English. This again goes back to emulating those who appear to occupy a position of authority or a position to which we should aspire.\n\nIn short, the reasons are many and complex, and all interplay to muddy the waters. There are no one-sentence answers, I'm afraid.
233273
I take acception to the one who said we couldn't pronounce ruin or ruined.  You are definitely entitled to your opinion but some of us rednecks are just as educated as the next fellow is.  Just because we have an accent doesn't make us an ignorant lot.  I am a redneck and very proud of it.
507590
There's no getting around the fact that people from different geographic locations sound differently.\n\nThere's no getting around the fact that people with higher education typically have a better vocabulary.\n\nI would never presume to attach a skin color to these statements, nor should anyone else.\n\nPS. Every time I open my mouth people ask me if I'm from NY and if my family is in the mafia.
228218
I'm not from England, I'm Irish, but I'd say some American accents sound lovely and some sound horrible.  There are lots of different American accents, just as there are lots of English accents, some nice and some not so nice.  I don't really think it's always the accent we like or dislike, it's other features of the person's speech.  For example, I personally can't bear listening to people with a strong nasal tone to their voice and I switch off when someone speaks too loudly.  I've read some research that says accents that feature stronger nasal tones are perceived negatively - in the UK, this is often described as a feature of the Birmingham accent (in the English midlands), the Australian accent, and the accent in some parts of New York and New Jersey (like Chandler Bing's early girlfriend in Friends).  My own accent - Northern Irish - is definitely NOT considered a 'cool' accent, so I'll sit here in my little glass house and make sure I throw no stones ;-)
937860
Just as Americans love British English, Many Brits love to hear the American dialect because it's different than what they speak. Americans DO have an accent, and it varies by geographical area just like in England. Someone from the Lake District isn't going to sound like someone in London ... just like someone from Boston isn't going to sound like someone from Texas ... \n\nAlso, based on geography, the dialect changed with the influx of new immigrants into the USA after our independance from England. The East coast has alot of mixed European dialects mixed in with "English" and the south has alot of "Spanish/French" mixed in with English. \n\nBut yes, British accents are Hot, and Scottish accents are even hotter ... just look at Ewan Mcgreggor ;)
1029068
he's from the southern part of America, where most people talk with a country drawl. however, he talks more slowly than other people because he has a lower IQ.
400427
I'm from Minnesota. I once went on a mission trip to St. Louis, and we were pretty much the only remotely northern youth group there. So we were the ones who had a funny accent XD (I distinctly remember this guy from Texas coming up to us, imploring us to "say 'Minnesota'!" Once we'd said it, he got all excited and was all like "DUDE! That totally just made my day!!"). And the pastor there once referred to one of my group leaders as "mah friend Kathy frum Minnesooooda" (imitating the famed Minnesota "O" sound). It was rather entertaining, I must say.\n\nI think there are drawbacks to that particular accent, though. First of all, when you're singing choral pieces you're supposed to have an open "O" sound, which, as a southerner, you naturally lack (no offense intended). I know of one conductor who was thoroughly frustrated with her choir because of this very thing. Also, sometimes it's a little difficult to understand when it's particularly heavy--though it's much more comprehensible than a heavy Scottish accent (sometimes it sounds like they're not even speaking English!). \n\nSo, in answer to your question, I do not have a southern accent, so I cannot be proud of it. But I think that that particular accent is a small part of America's charm.
869684
"Bacwood"? You have a pretty big set, insulting other people's intelligence when you apparently can't find the little "Check Spelling" button Yahoo provides. \n\nThe Midwest tends to share more values with the south than with the coasts. If you want to slam an entire region of the country, at least get your facts straight. \n\nAnd us "redneck hicks" in Alaska would LOVE to divorce ourselves from the "values" of the coasts - I'll bet the south feels the same way.