the New York Accent

When we talk about an "American Accent," we imply that there is only one accent spoken by Americans.  Of course, there are many, just like there are many British accents and other accents in English.  Over time, speaking styles change and develop in different regions in which people speak the same language.  The influence of immigrants to an area is one reason for this change, as well as the interaction between different groups.

At the same time, in our modern culture, we are exposed to media in English and an ever-growing rate.  The American accents you hear on TV, in the movies and on the news also influence the way people speak in different regions of the US.

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The Village Voice recently re-published an article talking about the history of the New York accent.  It was originally published in 1989, and at that time it was talking about the changes happening in the way New Yorkers were speaking. It's an interesting look at how regional accents develop and change over time.  Read the full article here.

Have a regional accent? Find out how your speech is different from other native speakers.  Take a free speech screening today.