Southern Accents now on the Endangered Species List
"There's a southern accent, where I come fromThe young 'uns call it countryThe Yankees call it dumbI got my own way of talkin'But everything is done, with a southern accentWhere I come from..." (TOM PETTY)
Authors note. I attempted to use the dictation option to 'write' this, where i put on my headphones and speak the words which then are magically transcribed onto the virtual page. It was futile. For example, when I said "I", it spelled the word "Ah". When I said "headed", it spelled "hate". When I said "southerners", it said "cylinders". So much for technology. Oddly enough, when I started cussing, it picked up nearly all those words with no problems (See"Swans are bitches"). Barbarians...
Recently, I have read several news reports that the Southern accent is slowly going away.
As in extinct. Vamoose. Bye, bye.
This disturbs me in more ways than I can count, and I find it extremely offensive. Repulsive. Nauseating. Improper, incompetent and reprehensible. I object to this line of questioning. (See Hamilton Burger)
Evidently the reasons for this have nothing to do with climate change, political, religious or sexual preference, favorite sports teams or the amount of fiber in ones diet.
The experts have conducted studies right here in my home state of Georgia, and have said that Generation X (those born between 1965-1982) have led the charge. (Full disclosure--I was born in 1962). They also said 'demographic shifts' have also played a part of the demise. Demographic shift roughly translates to 'Damn Yankees', who choose to live in the South as opposed to visiting. I sure cant blame any demographic for that, but you would think they would have assimilated accordingly by learning our language.(See Florida)
The late great Lewis Grizzard, Patron Saint of pork barbecue and Southerners everywhere said it best. "God Talks like we do!"
I know not what course others may take, but for me, I know of no other way to speak.
I live smack dab in the middle of Dixie. God shed his grace on me.
My people, my people's people, and my people's people's people are all Southerners.
Being an observer of the human condition I have been around long enough to determine by listening to someone speak If they are from North or South Georgia and in certain cases, Tennessee or Alabama. On a few occasions, I've even been able to detect Arkansas. I have been accused of being from Oklahoma on more than one occasion and I've never set foot in the place. One thing's for sure, I've never been accused of being from the North, except for one traumatizing occasion when a lady saw me buying ginger ale Because I had a sick child at home. Idiots have no demographic or generational boundaries.
Regardless, My accent pales in comparison to some, but it's enough for people to have asked me where it is that I come from? I have always taken that as a compliment. And when asked, I have used a line stolen from my hero General Robert L. Scott, and replied that I was from Maine. They would look at me with eyes wide open and say Maine?!? And I would say, "Yeah, the main part of Georgia".
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There is also the matter of southern sayings—there are too many to list but suffice it to say they sound better when spoken in a southern accent. If you can listen in a southern accent, then mo’ better.
I can understand why no accents are associated with those who broadcast the news. Anyone who has ever watched the news where they interview the person whose trailer just got destroyed by the ‘Tornader’ can see why close caption has become a thing. I read somewhere once that folks from the Midwest make the best newscasters. They have the ‘ no accent’ accent. (See Walter Cronkite)
And speaking of news, why don't you hear anybody in the news talking about other regional accents going away? How about New York? Massachusetts? Rhode Island?
I tell you why. They all moved south and tainted our water supply. (See Barbarians)
Goodness gracious alive. I can think of no higher blasphemy than everyone speaking and sounding like they came from the same place. It’s a snowball headed for hell. (See Merle Haggard)
As best I can recall, I have never had problems communicating with folks or anyone having a problem with the way I speak or that matter the way anybody down here in the middle of Georgia speaks. In fact, I hope that they find it hospitable and friendly.
I'm not quite sure where this whole world is headed. To me, the southern accent is comfort, peace, tranquility, reassurance--in short, it's home. If it ever does go away, I hope it happens after I'm long dead.
There's no place like Home. (See Dorothy)
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