Fuhgeddaboudit! New York City's iconic accent is dying out, study finds
The New York City accent is one of the world's most distinctive, heard in the voices of stars such as Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Rosie O'Donnell. But this classic twang could soon disappear entirely. That is according to a survey, which has revealed that many Americans think the New York City accent is dying out. Experts surveyed more than 3,000 people about the regional accents they hear less often. Topping the list is the Appalachian accent – a distinct dialect native to the mountain region of the Eastern US. However, the New York City accent was also a cause for concern. 'New York City, New England and Philadelphia appear further down the list – still at risk, but less likely to be dropped than Southern or Appalachian,' The Word Finder, a website which ran the research, explained. 'These dialects have long been portrayed in media, which may help preserve them even as everyday usage softens.' Experts from The Word Finder surveyed more than 3,000 people about the regional accents they hear less often The New York City accent is one of the world's most distinctive, heard in the voices of stars such as Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Rosie O'Donnell The US is home to 30 major accents, ranging from the Southern drawl to the classic Boston twang. However, how these accents are changing over time has remained a mystery until now. To get to the bottom of it, the researchers surveyed 3,042 US adults.The participants were asked whether there are words, phrases, or speech habits associated with their region that they use less often, hear less frequently, or feel are gradually disappearing from everyday conversation.The results revealed that the Appalachian, Southern and Louisiana accents are at the highest risk of disappearing. 'Dialects rooted in very specific geographies – Appalachian, Southern, Louisiana – sit right at the top of the "increasingly retired" list,' The Word Finder explained. 'All are unmistakable dialects with long cultural histories.'But the fact that they are being used less in everyday language suggests that strong identity markers are what are driving people to tone down the accents when they move, switch jobs, or interact with non–locals.' The New York City accent was 12th on the list, which means it's 'still at risk', according to The Word Finder The US accents at risk of disappearing AppalachianSouthernLouisianaPacific SouthwestHudson ValleyMid–AtlanticBoston UrbanBaltimoreRocky MountainNew Mexican EnglishPhiladelphia EnglishNew York CityNew EnglandMidwesternChicago Urban The New York City accent was 12th on the list, which means it is 'still at risk', according to The Word Finder. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Professor Natalie Braber, a professor of linguistics at Nottingham Trent University, explained what makes the New York City accent stand out. 'There are a few things that were seen as "traditionally" New York - the way the letter "r" was often not pronounced, for example in "car park" - in other parts of the US, this is pronounced with what is called a rhotic r, which is different to the UK, where most accents are not rhotic (except in many places in Scotland, the South-West and bits of Lancashire),' she said. 'Also, the way that "th" sounds are more likely to be pronounced with a "t" or "d" sound (toidy toid typically for thirty third).' In contrast, the accents at the bottom of the list are the Inland Northern, Pacific Northwest, Southwestern, Midland and South Midland. According to The Word Finder, these accents share a common trait – lighter regional signatures. 'These are less likely to be dropped simply because they draw less attention in the first place,' it explained. Looking ahead, it seems the US is shifting towards a more neutral accent. 'What stands out from the ranking is how often people retreat from the accents that once defined a strong regional identity,' The Word Finder added. 'The more distinctive the sound, the more likely people are to tuck it away unless they are with family or among locals.'Meanwhile, accents that already lean neutral remain stable because they avoid the baggage – positive or negative – that comes with sounding unmistakably “from somewhere".'Thankfully, Professor Braber reassures that the New York City accent will likely stick around. 'Language/accents are always changing, so it's unlikely to disappear completely, although certain features of it may change,' she added.
