Does anyone else feel that the "southern accent" makes people sound less intelligent?

Question

Whenever I hear someone talk in a southern accent they lose IQ points...anyone else feel the same?

Answer 1

There is a huge difference between saying "all Southerners are stupid," which is a stereotype, and saying "a Southern accent makes people sound less intelligent," which is similar to asking "Does this dress make me look fat?" The former implies a certainty based upon an entirely unrelated fact, whereas the latter simply suggests the result of a behavioral (linguistic) phenomenon.

And yes, I think Southern accents do make people sound less intelligent. That is not to say, of course, that they ARE less intelligent, nor is it arguing that Southern accents are unattractive. Indeed, I know several people who swoon if they hear a Southern drawl. Personally, for me, not so much.

Answer 2

I Strongly disagree with That Because Majority Of My Family Are Professionals At their Job and They Have a southern Accent And They Are Very Intellegent.And If You Live For Example New York For All Your Life And You Come Down To North Carolina And Speak People Automaticlly Know That You Are Fron Upstate. Your Accent Has Nothing To Do With Knowedge.

Answer 3

Being from the south, a southern accent does not make a person sound less intelligent. But when you mix slang words of any dialect it sounds pretty stupid anywhere you are. Its like that fast food commercial where the Italian guys I think are eating burgers and talking I cant make out what they are saying they sound stupid to me, but for some one from New York its perfectly natural. Ebonics was the worst thing to ever come about its just street slang that the general public doesn't understand. So in sounds less intelligent than perfect grammar. Y'all have a nice day now ya here.

Answer 4

Problem -- you fail to distinguish between the distinctly different sorts of Southern accent. The accent of the Southern gentry and that of those who settled in the mountains were, for instance, quite distinct.

http://www.americandialect.org/americandialectarchives/sept93.txt

The response to these accents varies, partly by region. "Hill country" (or "hillbilly") accents are considered uneducated not only by Northerners but by many in the South as well. On the other hand, a 'soft' southern accent may be thought genteel --callingl up associations with southern belles and gentlemen.

Answer 5

I think most educated, urban individuals try to modulate their accent, whether that be a Yankee accent or a Southern drawl. This makes it easier for them to communicate with people from other regions and other cultures, which is understandably important to educated people. But sometimes an accent is so deeply rooted that education does not significantly reduce one's accent. Therefore, it's not the case that people with an accent, whether southern or northern, are necessarily less intelligent.

I do, however, think that it's natural for people in one state, region, or nation to feel that the pronounced accents of people from other states, regions, or nations sound ignorant. Just as many Northerners think a Southern accent makes its speakers sound stupid, many Southerners think an annoyingly nasal Northern accent makes its speakers sound stupid. This is partly due to a preference for milder accents over harsher ones, partly due to ignorance or lack of experience with a certain region, and partly due to stereotyping. And since most people, even educated ones, tend to fall victim to ignorance and stereotyping on occasion, I'm sure you will receive quite a few positive responses.

As for me personally, being from Texas with parents from Mississippi, I only find that certain southern accents come across as ignorant or less intelligent. Then again, I'm probably making some of the same erroneous assumptions you are.

Answer 6

No, I have lived in the South and in the West. People are not less intelligent because they live in a certain geographical location. Intelligence is a God Given Talent. Some are blessed with great intelligence and others are not. But we all are blessed with some talent. It is our gift and it should not be wasted. Intelligence is just one gift. A southern accent can be a beautiful thing to listen too. I enjoy Irish, Scotch, Australian and Canadian accents too.

Answer 7

That's a very judgmental blanket statement. I'm from the south and I get compliment's daily about how well spoken I am. Also, I have a very close Friend who has a thick southern accent and people compliment literally all the time about how they love it. She graduated this spring Magna *** Laude, so obviously she doesn't have a low I.Q.

Answer 8

I heard southern accent came out after the discovery of chewing tobacco.

Answer 9

Unfortunately I do but I realise that I've just fallen prey to a stereotype and I try to overcome it. I've met some very intelligent southern people. I always try not to generalise. It's not their fault where they were born!

Answer 10

No I mean if you're dumb then your dumb and that goes for everyone.
It is a big stereotype, you also have to think about the lifestyle. Some southern cities are not current with the big cities.