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Why Do Americans Speak Differently?
This week we are talking about talking.
The United States of America is a diverse country - geographically, demographically, and culturally, where every state has its own unique sense of identity. And a big part of that identity is language and dialect.
So in this episode, I want to understand why and how American accents are so different, both from each other and from the British, as I ask… why do Americans speak differently?
...
Special guest for this episode:
- Valerie Fridland, a Professor of Linguistics at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is an expert on the relationship between language and society, and is co-author of the book Sociophonetics. Her latest book, Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English is available to buy now.
...
Highlights from this episode:
- The podcast explores the complexities of American accents, emphasizing their diversity across regions, which reflects the different cultural identities found in the USA.
- Differences between dialects and accents are discussed, with dialects representing broader linguistic variations while accents focus specifically on pronunciation features.
- Language evolution is shaped by both nature and nurture, as cognitive structures influence language change while social factors determine specific dialectal features.
- The historical context of language in America is highlighted, illustrating how early settlement patterns contributed to the development of distinct American accents over time.
- The impact of mass media on language and accents is nuanced, as it has not significantly altered established accents but can reinforce existing linguistic trends.
- The three-generation pattern of language loss among immigrant communities demonstrates how ethnic identities persist through evolving accents even when original languages are forgotten.
...
Additional Resources:
Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English by Valerie Fridland
Sociophonetics (Key Topics in Sociolinguistics) by Tyler Kendall, co-authored by Valerie Fridland
Why We Talk Funny by Valerie Fridland
ValerieFridland.com
Language in the Wild | Psychology Today
...
And if you like this episode, you might also love:
What Makes Country Music so American?
Are the Oscars Still Relevant?
Why Does Everyone Love Disney?
Could Friends BE Any Bigger?
How Accurate is Forrest Gump?
...
SUPPORT THE SHOW
Individual Supporters: https://america-a-history.captivate.fm/support
University Partners: https://america-a-history.captivate.fm/partnerships
Brand Sponsors: [email protected]
Contact us: [email protected]
We're partnering with NeoTaste, the exclusive membership card unlocking huge discounts at hundreds of restaurants across the UK & Europe. Get your first 2 months free by using the code AAH at checkout. Sign up here: https://neotaste.com/gb?code=AAH&a=2
Are you a University or college? Become an academic partner and your name will appear right here.
Mentioned in this episode:
NeoTaste
Be on the Show!
What would you put in a US time capsule? We're creating a virtual one on the podcast very soon, and we want to hear from you. Visit https://www.speakpipe.com/AmericaAHistory right now to record your contribution... and you might just make it on the show.
View all episodes
By Liam HeffernanThis week we are talking about talking.
The United States of America is a diverse country - geographically, demographically, and culturally, where every state has its own unique sense of identity. And a big part of that identity is language and dialect.
So in this episode, I want to understand why and how American accents are so different, both from each other and from the British, as I ask… why do Americans speak differently?
...
Special guest for this episode:
- Valerie Fridland, a Professor of Linguistics at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is an expert on the relationship between language and society, and is co-author of the book Sociophonetics. Her latest book, Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English is available to buy now.
...
Highlights from this episode:
- The podcast explores the complexities of American accents, emphasizing their diversity across regions, which reflects the different cultural identities found in the USA.
- Differences between dialects and accents are discussed, with dialects representing broader linguistic variations while accents focus specifically on pronunciation features.
- Language evolution is shaped by both nature and nurture, as cognitive structures influence language change while social factors determine specific dialectal features.
- The historical context of language in America is highlighted, illustrating how early settlement patterns contributed to the development of distinct American accents over time.
- The impact of mass media on language and accents is nuanced, as it has not significantly altered established accents but can reinforce existing linguistic trends.
- The three-generation pattern of language loss among immigrant communities demonstrates how ethnic identities persist through evolving accents even when original languages are forgotten.
...
Additional Resources:
Like, Literally, Dude: Arguing for the Good in Bad English by Valerie Fridland
Sociophonetics (Key Topics in Sociolinguistics) by Tyler Kendall, co-authored by Valerie Fridland
Why We Talk Funny by Valerie Fridland
ValerieFridland.com
Language in the Wild | Psychology Today
...
And if you like this episode, you might also love:
What Makes Country Music so American?
Are the Oscars Still Relevant?
Why Does Everyone Love Disney?
Could Friends BE Any Bigger?
How Accurate is Forrest Gump?
...
SUPPORT THE SHOW
Individual Supporters: https://america-a-history.captivate.fm/support
University Partners: https://america-a-history.captivate.fm/partnerships
Brand Sponsors: [email protected]
Contact us: [email protected]
We're partnering with NeoTaste, the exclusive membership card unlocking huge discounts at hundreds of restaurants across the UK & Europe. Get your first 2 months free by using the code AAH at checkout. Sign up here: https://neotaste.com/gb?code=AAH&a=2
Are you a University or college? Become an academic partner and your name will appear right here.
Mentioned in this episode:
NeoTaste
Be on the Show!
What would you put in a US time capsule? We're creating a virtual one on the podcast very soon, and we want to hear from you. Visit https://www.speakpipe.com/AmericaAHistory right now to record your contribution... and you might just make it on the show.