How did the American accent of English start?

Answer 1

The MAIN explanation for the distinct American accents --and there are originally FOUR main regional dialects, not one-- is NOT the mixture with other foreign languages (as several have suggested). Rather, the main dialect areas of the US can be traced to the four main migrations of English speaking people to America from the British Isles during the colonial period (1607-1775).

Here's an overview:
1. New England - Puritan Migrations (1629-40) from East Anglia
2. Coastal South (Virginia to Florida) -Cavalier Migrations (1642-1675) from South England
3. New Jersey, Pennsylvania - Quaker migrations (1675-1725)from the Midlands area of England (near Wales)
4. Appalachian English - Scots-Irish migrations (1715-1775), mostly English people from Britain's Celtic fringe (North England, Northern Ireland)>

This is the first of four main factors that explain the differences between British and American English:

1) the language spoken by emigrants who first established the colony was a particular variety of British English-- the "founder's effect"
2) this may have mixed with some non-English language in the colony-- the "substrate effect"
3) there may have been further mixing with other English dialects in the colony--"dialect mixing"
4) innovations in EITHER British or American English -- that is, innovations in British English that did not occur in the more conservative overseas dialect, OR innovations in the colonial dialect (for any of the three previous reasons) which did not occur in Britain

http://pandora.cii.wwu.edu/vajda/ling201/test3materials/AmericanDialects.htm

(This link also describes the distinctive features and contributions of the four main regional dialects.)

Answer 2

Dizzy G is right. During Shakespeare's time, the English accent was actually said to sound more like the American accent today. So, the actual English accent is the one that has changed so much.

Answer 3

There in no way grew to become right into a distinctive American accessory, using fact the earliest non-community settlers got here from maximum of distinctive lands. You had English, Irish, Scottish, French, German, Spanish and others all coming at the same time and gaining wisdom of to cooperate for the hardship-loose sturdy. What stepped forward have been interior of reach dialects, and that persists even at present. in case you pay attention to a sparkling Yorker, then an Oklahoman, then an Iowan and then an Oregonian, you will pay attention distinctive differences. the variations are lessening presently. and you're particularly suited concerning to the Irish and German accents - they have been between the main multiple of immigrants. And just to confuse issues added - my great-granddaddy got here right here from Berkshire and married an immigrant from eire - and my final call is fantastically German - and that i grew to become into born in Oklahoma. What do you think I sound like?

Answer 4

By not living in the same country?

If you're interested in the historical aspect of the language, I recommend you find and read The Story of English, by Robert McCrum, Robert MacNeil and William Cran. They'll answer all the questions you may have about the why, when and how of the English language.

Answer 5

American accent? Have you not travelled? In this country there must be 40 different accents. It would seem that it evolved from the english language with the influence of other langauges. IE: French and Spanish primarily.

Answer 6

It probably started from illiteracy, not knowing exactly how a word is spelled would bring a change to its pronounciation. Look at the way both countries differ in the orthography of some words
Examples: Storey and story: labour and labor: mould and mold. It seems that the American spelling is more rudimental than the English one.

Answer 7

Many of the original British settlers in new world were convicts from the lower classes, transported to the colonies to stop them causing trouble at home. The accent evolved as other ethnic groups were added to the mix.

Answer 8

I totally agree with all the Shakespearian answers, but you also have to take into account all the other Europeans who will have added their accents into the mix as well.

Answer 9

Some say that modern "American" English sounds closer to how "British" English used to sound. Hence, it is "British" English that has changed (according to some).

Answer 10

because americans are descended from a mixture of europe, including irish, so american accents are very similar to irish, with a bit of english thrown in.