US Accents?

Question

In the UK we have different accents depending on what part of the country you come from, i was just wondering if its the same in America, does the accent change from State to State or City to City or is it pretty much the same everywhere?

all answers appreciated

Answer 1

Broadcast radio and television announcers are trained to use a fairly bland, midwest American accent as it is easiest to understand.

However, there are many regional, distinctive accents in the USA, as different as Yorkshire is from Cockney. Sometimes it is difficult for people from one area, such as New England (Vermont, New Hampshire, etc), to understand someone from the Deep South (Georgia, Alabama, etc). Texans have different accents than folks from Massachusetts.

There are variations within states, too. Someone from New York City or "the Bronx" (a burough within NYC) speaks with a different accent than someone from Buffalo, New York (near Niagra Falls and Canada). People who live in downstate Illinois (near Kentucky or Iowa) have a different accent than people from Chicago (far northern Illinois).

Places like California, Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico have so many immigrants from Mexico and Asia that English is often colored with a Spanish or oriental accent!

Our nation is so large that regional accents flourish. There are linguists who study America's English accents and their effects on society.

Answer 2

There are differences, for sure.

The accents don't line up with the state lines: western Massachusetts and Boston have two totally different accents.
New York is very distincive, as well as the Southern accent.

But in New Orleans (before Katrina), you could tell what county within the city someone is from, just from their accent.

Answer 3

It is different from city to city, and even within cities you can find differences depending on what ethnicity you are or what part of the city you come from. The worst accent in the world is found on people who come from Boston.

Answer 4

Yes, it sure does. It varies almost state to state. There is such a huge difference in accent just between Boston and NY and they are just a few hours apart. The southern part of the US is a whole 'nother ball game too.

Answer 5

Yes. People in the North East (Massachusetts and New Hampshire) have an accent. People down south have a Southern Accent (which sounds different from people in Texas in my opinion). People in Wisconsin talk funny too.

Answer 6

I reside in Canada and I've been to the US and certainly watch American TV indicates and there may be obviously NO change! There's certainly a change among that southern accessory and the opposite more than a few accents in special states however for probably the most facet it is precisely the identical. :) And I have in no way in my existence heard any individual right here say "eh" - it is only a stereotype.

Answer 7

It varies. From state to state but it can also vary from town to town. Where I live, just in my county we have at least 3 distinct dialects. There is also a very noticeable difference between the northern people and southern people.
It is interesting to travel and hear all the different accents we have.

Answer 8

Absolutely. The South has more ofa drawl. The Northeast sounds the most like British, the West is more laid back/relaxed. Each region also uses different words to refer to things; for example Coke is "soda" in one place and is "pop" in another. The only region that has a neutral accent, and most journalists and anchors tend to be from, is generally the Midwestern US.

Answer 9

Just like the UK, there are different accents in America. Just too many to mention...

Answer 10

Yes it varies quite a bit. Even in one's own city (i.e. between the youth and the elder, etc.). We most definitely have accents that vary from state to state, city to city, as well as coast to coast.