The British founded America, so why don't Americans have a British accent? I heard a professor say on the radio that back then the British didn't have the present day British accent and instead sounded like Americans. Is that true?
2007-03-14 08:44:03 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
No, I would not say that. I myself am from the southern states of America, and can tell you how our accent developed. First of all, the colonists only had Indians and themselves to talk to (and I mean Native Americans). That meant that we had already lost some of our British accent by 1770. Secondly, we Americans wanted to change everything so that we could be different from Great Britain such as the side of the road we drive on, measurements, currency, form of government, etc; therefore, starting in the early years after the Revolutionary War, we purposefully tried to "get away" from the British was of speaking. Thirdly, in the South, the waves of Irish and German immigrants that came here during the mid-1800s greatly influenced our accent. We (the South) began using a slower and more laid-back accent that originated from the Irish immigrants. The Germans helped us to get that slight twang some of us have. The weather and climate also have something to do with it, but I will not bore you with my rantings any longer except to say that I love, love, LOVE Australia, and love y'all's accent! Have a great day!
2007-03-15 11:33:44 · answer #1 · answered by AUlover 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Accents just evolve over time. Whether or not American accents were British, or the other way around, it doesn't matter. American accents were probably influenced a great deal by the huge variety of different ethnicities and cultures that make up America, and it's worth remembering too than an 'American' accent isn't very clear cut. Americans have different accents all over the country, and just going from the northern half of Indiana to the southern half you'll hear a drastic accent change.
2007-03-14 08:48:19 · answer #2 · answered by Jade 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Americans don't have British accents because the countries have been separated for so long and languages/accents change over time.
In the Boston area they still sound more British than the rest of the country. That Boston accent is a close as it gets anymore.
2007-03-14 08:49:58 · answer #3 · answered by Sun: supporting gay rights 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Well, that depends whom you ask. Some of the different accents in America started as accents in different parts of Britain. There are several British accents.
Plus, here was have influences from other languages, especially in areas that had a lot of German or Scandinavian immigrants.
2007-03-14 08:50:37 · answer #4 · answered by Joey 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
American accent along with distance has been influenced by many different immigrants coming into the continent like the French in Lousiana, Italians in NY, Irish in Boston and Spanish in California. The amalgamation has created different American accents.
2007-03-14 08:54:56 · answer #5 · answered by Sai~ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Same reasons as why Jamaicans don't speak with an english accent and why Brits have different english accents.
It should also be noted that not all of america started out as british colonies. You could easy have asked why don't we speak with dutch or french accents.
Things like time, culture, and social make up all helped to change our accents.
2007-03-14 09:07:00 · answer #6 · answered by goldenbrowngod 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The two populations have been apart too long and both have experienced a large influx of other influences
2007-03-14 08:52:04 · answer #7 · answered by fdm215 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
no it's not true! the BRITISH have numerous accents.
and the queen does not speak English! she's a German!
Prince Phillip, is a Greek, or is that geek?
as for the Americans, they can't even spell the word English!
what colour is color?
2007-03-14 08:53:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 17⤋
because they don't...
2007-03-14 08:48:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 9⤋