American Accents

One thing I find interesting is language. How it evolves and develops, how various accents occur in different regions. Sometimes the names of things vary from area to area. For example, when I lived in Cumberland, Maryland, many people used the term "gum bands" for what I call a "rubber band". They also called any type of carbonated soft drink a "tonic". In Texas and Oklahoma, I have heard the word "Coke" used generically for any of these drinks, called elsewhere "pop", "soda", or "soda pop".

Beyond the words used, the regional accents are also interesting. I recently took a quick survey someone had set up on a web site that supposedly analyzes what American accent you have based upon a series of questions. I really don't know how accurate it is, but what I did find interesting is the comment in the results that said:

You have a good voice for TV and radio.

Considering my first career was in radio, that makes sense. Now, I'll be the first to admit that in casual conversation, I don't pay quite as much attention to diction and pronunciation as I did on the air, but still think I speak fairly standard American English without any of the affectations of regional accents.

In any case, here were my results.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland   "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The South
Philadelphia
The Inland North
The Northeast
The West
Boston
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz