I was wondering how all the different accents of the english speaking world adapted, what gave the new york accent such a whiney tone? what gave the southern US' that hillbilly accent? what gave australians that twang? was it from the native populations there, or did they just decide to speak different, there must have been some influence or else everyone would still be speaking standard english...
2007-01-10 08:06:34 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
btw I don't mean how do children pick the accent up from their parents, i mean how did it change over the generations, if you understand now
2007-01-10 08:11:31 · update #1
I believe the regional accents were influenced by where the predominant amount of speakers originate(d) from, for example the south was first populated by those from Scotland, hence their southern drawl. New Yorker was first populated by the dutch, than Irish, which lends itself to their accent. Boston is largely Irish-American in origin. That's how their thick accent came about.
Australians originated from Great Britain and it was a penal colony, therefore tended to be populated by the lower-class, "cockneys", which gave them that rich accent.
2007-01-10 08:16:00 · answer #1 · answered by railfan2006 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
When populations are separated, different ways of speaking come about naturally. According to wikipedia, Australian English was influenced by Irish. When you look at America, you have to consider that immigrants and slaves influenced the development of dialects. Wikipedia has an article on Southern English which points out that the dialect in the South was influenced by African languages. It makes sense - slave owners had to be able to communicate with slaves. I think that these things take place over a long period of time so that it's hard for us to imagine, but I think America is so varied because of the immigrants that have settled in different locations.
2007-01-10 08:28:28 · answer #2 · answered by Taco girl 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Careful. You possibly just offended millions of people in New York and the south. Australians too.
Language is a complex thing. There are many factors that influence the manner of speaking of a community. It's a good sign that the people are communicating if they sound alike.
I'm sure you have an accent too. I know I do, too. Just be careful making personal commentaries about the way people are.
2007-01-10 08:12:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
definite, non-human beings precise this second observe an American accent. all of us understand you've all kinds of close by accents contained in the States, yet there is something straightforward to all of them that precise this second tells us, it really is an American. i'm afraid maximum human beings, till we get countless publicity to the Canadian accent, do not realize it is distinct from an American accent. I really have discovered, however it took a at the same time as. Sorry, Canada!
2016-12-02 02:30:53 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Localized populations will develop a local language and accent different from another population far away. It is like inbreeding in a sense.
2007-01-10 08:16:52 · answer #5 · answered by Big C 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the effect of other languages is large
(Minnesotans have an accent because of the influence of Norwegian on English learning immigrants, Southern accents are Irish influenced, etc.)
2007-01-10 08:12:08 · answer #6 · answered by anonacoup 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It was the people that settled there and over time the accent changed little by little until it was what it is today. BTW, I live in the south and I hate the accents here!
2007-01-10 08:18:38 · answer #7 · answered by Laura 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
has to do with the region and dialect. all things change over time.
2007-01-10 08:09:38 · answer #8 · answered by Angel Baby 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋