Why do African Americans retain their accents and others typically don't?

Question

They've been here for many generations --- yet their accent remain very distinct . There are exceptions -- but very few.

Irish, British, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, etc. often lose their accents after the 2nd generation. You wouldn't be able to tell if they were Chinese or British if you talked to them on the phone.

I know people in the South talk a certain way, but the difference is African Americans have a very distinct accent/tone no matter where they live in the States -- and even European Africans I've noticed the same thing.

I'd appreciate some African Americans answering this question.


*** Note: I am not trying to be racist here, so try not to get offended. ***

Answer 1

I am not sure what you mean but I feel The people who are in Africa have an entirely different accent and that is very rarely heard in US the english spoken by African-American is entirely different, it is a language they identify themselves with! 'cos I have met some people from South Africa and some from Places like Cameroon, Kenya and Ethiopia and their English is heavily accented but their accent is very distinct and very different from the English speaking African- American people who have lived in US generation after generation!

Answer 2

First of all, the Irish, British, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, etc languages belong to the Indo-European family (English is also a part of this family). Therefore, the transition from one Indo-European language to other Indo-European language is fairly easy. But for those people who's native tongue orignates from completely different language family, the transition is much more trying. Most people believe that African American culture begins at Slavery. This is not the case, before we where Americans we where Afro-Asiatic. In that, most African languages are derived from the Afro-Asiatic family which has over 375 Languages. So to answer your question, our accents are and remain "very distinct" from Indo-European accents, because our native tongue is from the Afro-Asiatic language family.

Answer 3

I think that your observation applies only to a certain percentage and I don't see that the exceptions are 'very few'. This may be due to the fact that I have a great deal of exposure to blacks, given that my wife is black (she and her sisters speak with no accent) and given my professional career (exposure to well-educated people). So ... what I think is that the percentage of blacks who do retain their accent, despite successive generations living in the U.S., are those who are raised in the same homogenous communities where the racial and social makeup are the same, including the speech patterns. When people move out of those environments and into communities where there's both more diversity and more of an 'upward trend' mindset, the accents go away. So, in a nutshell: it has to do with staying in the same , very homogenous community. When you're watching tv, check out all the african americans who don't speak with any accent.

Answer 4

I think not all african American have very distinct accent.Their accent will be different if they maintain theirown culture,their habit and own language in their families.If they make relationship with other nation widely their accent will be changed adjusted by their environment accent.

Answer 5

what are you talking about? the accent African Americans have if any are not accents from Africa, is that what you mean? seriously? if we are 'African American' where would the accent be from? if we were born and raised in America how would we have an accent except for the one that comes from the region of the us we live in, which in that case every body who lives there would have it...so maybe I'm misunderstanding your question your accent must be throwing me off!

Answer 6

I don't know about the rest of you guys, military brat, born in "France" live in Ky and I speak hillbilly french with a twisted proper flair. Gee guess I'm special. Or I'm I just I'll? Oh no something else to worry about now:-)

Answer 7

Well..i am afraid the African Americans cannot change their accents to the American one. it`s a physiological thing is guess.

Answer 8

which ones? news anchors? Collin Powell? its not inherent its a choice.. you know the story refuse to fit in unless it suits you, then back to sounding unemployed

Answer 9

not true.. many folks from different places retain their accents.
Too many variables.. access to education, poverty level, location...

Answer 10

desire to be different and not blend in