Are Youse Losing Your Accent?

The United States is known for its diversity in culture, and with that comes the regional accents that we’ve heard about since we began learning about the country. Boston R’s, the Southern twang and even the “yinz” and “youse” of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia set Americans apart from each other. However, cultural changes over the past few decades are challenging the longevity of iconic American accents.

Why do accents change?

There are many reasonable guesses for the cause of accent changes, but experts do not agree on the importance of each of them. The mass media boom in the latter half of the 20th century often gets the blame for affecting the traditional molds of accents and slang (class, age, race, gender and location), but is “blaming” really the right way to look at this change? Sociolinguist Kelly Elizabeth Wright, PhD, notes that “Languages evolve like rivers evolve. Its development is continuous and ongoing…” so looking at the traditional catalysts of accent changes through a different lens could improve attitudes about new slang.

Location as a contributing factor to language is viewed through a less literal lens, now that we are able to communicate with others around the world through our mobile devices. Dr. Wright mentions that “Historically, language users are most often in physical proximity, so variation occurs across classes or racial groups in a particular city, neighborhood or school.” The widespread use of the internet flattens the playing field between people in different classes or racial groups, so members of each group see each other as peers more than they would if traditional language barriers were upheld.

Other experts are seeing location affect language differently. Associate professor of linguistics at the University of Georgia, Margaret E. L. Renwick has noticed areas that have seen the biggest accent shifts are sites of heavy immigration. Younger people in those regions are exposed to more diverse speaking patterns than their elders. Renwick attributes the biggest changes in language to immigration, rather than the internet.

Is the changing of language bad?

As an elder, hearing younger generations sound nothing like you can be heartbreaking. And while the regional accents and slang have helped create community for people around the country, they have also strengthened communities online.

Many internet users share the observation of Dr. Wright that much of the popular slang today comes from marginalized groups such as queer and/or Black people. Dr. Wright has noticed that those that are not in the know with modern slang view in from a pejorative perspective. However, the usage of slang online has created communities where marginalized groups feel welcome and able to express themselves freely. Plus, young people who are familiar with modern slang can use this to their advantage when older people and brands want to get involved.