The Evolution of Accents

The evolution of accents is a fascinating thing. People who live extremely close to each other can talk completely differently from one another. Language drift is a factor in the creation of accents. A common example of language drift is the word gay. It is used to mean happy, but the meaning has changed to be a synonym with homosexual. Another factor for accents is location. If you were in a really isolated place, it would take longer for language drift to reach you.

Taking a closer look, One of the most famous American accents is the southern accent. Well known for its fast pace and its melodic tones, the southern accent dates back to the founding of the American colonies. Most of us have some idea of what this accent sounds like. Some of you probably imagined a fast-talking auctioneer in your head when you heard “southern accent”. This accent was just as common in the upper class as well as the lower class. From people reading Shakespeare to the common farmer, this accent was shared among all kinds of people.