Do Some Americans Still Speak Transatlantic Accents?

Yes, but its usage is increasingly rare. This particular accent, which was common among well-educated Americans born in the late 1930s and early 1940s, has become a relic of a bygone era. However, it persists in some unique contexts, such as the original settlers on the coast of North Carolina, whose descendants still retain a West Country accent.

Retaining the West Country Accent in North Carolina

Nestled along the coast of North Carolina, there is a fascinating group of islands where the original settlers were of West Country origin. These settlers brought with them their distinctive accent, which has persisted in their descendants to this day. However, the diaspora from these islands, characterized by less isolation due to more modern times, has led to a gradual decline in the use of this accent. While it is still present, its prevalence is waning.

An Exception: A Millennial with a 50s-Style Accent

The persistence of the transatlantic accent among some Americans is also exemplified by one individual I encountered. This person, a millennial from Washington state who was homeschooled, speaks in a manner reminiscent of film narrators from the 1950s. This individual drops postvocalic R and exhibits New England vowel shifts, though they do not exhibit the trap~path split characteristic of Franklin D. Roosevelt. This unusual speech pattern is noteworthy, as it represents a rare instance of this accent surviving in a younger generation.

The accent this millennial uses is marked by a peculiar smoker's voice and a distinct narrative style reminiscent of classic American cinema. Despite its uniqueness, it deviates from the historical transatlantic accent, particularly in terms of the trap~path split feature. This suggests that the accent has undergone certain modifications even in the absence of explicit imitation.

The Declining Popularity and Current State of the Accent

Generally speaking, the transatlantic accent is less prevalent today. Unlike in the United Kingdom or Australia, where dialects often split along class lines, American accents today are more commonly associated with lower, middle, and upper class backgrounds. The speech of the upper class is particularly close to middle class norms, indicating a trend towards homogenization in American speech patterns.

This trend is largely attributed to the influence of Hollywood and television, which have helped to normalize regional and social accents. The rise of mass media and the cultural influence of popular films and television shows have played a significant role in shaping contemporary American accents. It is thus unlikely that the transatlantic accent will maintain its prominence in mainstream American speech without deliberate effort to preserve it, as seen in the case of the aforementioned millennial.

Exceptional Cases: Actors, Historians, and Linguists

While the frequency of the transatlantic accent among the general population has diminished, there are still exceptional cases, such as actors and historians. For instance, Christopher Buckley, whose father William Buckley did speak this accent, often reproduces it in historical and literary contexts. Such individuals maintain a specific and specialized use of this accent, but it is not a common part of their everyday speech.

The preservation of the transatlantic accent in modern American speech is thus largely limited to niche communities, such as original North Carolina settlers, unique regional groups, and certain professional contexts. Its decline is largely due to the pervasive influence of media and the ongoing evolution of American linguistic norms.

Conclusion

The transatlantic accent, while once prevalent among a specific generation and demographic, is now largely a thing of the past. Its persistence in exceptional cases and unique contexts highlights the complex and dynamic nature of language and dialect in American society. As American English continues to evolve, the transatlantic accent remains a fascinating subject for linguistic study and a rare cultural artifact.