this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2024
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Humanities & Cultures

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Is the Southern Accent Disappearing? (youtu.be)
submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by godzilla_lives@beehaw.org to c/humanities@beehaw.org
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Linguists studying the Southern American Dialect reckon that it ain't what it used to be, y'all. I do declayuh!

Otherwords is a PBS web series on Storied that digs deep into this quintessential human trait of language and finds the fascinating, thought-provoking, and funny stories behind the words and sounds we take for granted. Incorporating the fields of biology, history, cultural studies, literature, and more, linguistics has something for everyone and offers a unique perspective on what it means to be human.

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[–] GrundlButter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 9 points 7 months ago (5 children)

Alright, we can drop the accent, but y'all gotta compromise and accept the word y'all.

[–] Whimseymimple@beehaw.org 6 points 7 months ago (2 children)

The video mentions how "y'all" has become a more nationwide word due to its usefulness.

[–] GrundlButter@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I'm honestly really glad it seems to be a shared opinion that's changed over the years. About 10 years ago I got told it was unprofessional language in the workplace.

[–] WaterLizard@beehaw.org 3 points 7 months ago

I've been using y'all in corporate America for about five years now and have yet had a manager condemn its use. It's widely accepted now and I've had coworkers mentioned it makes them fondly remember family from the south. It's just a good colloquial for referring to a group. Oddly enough "you guys" has slowly been entering my diction too due to working with more folks from the west and midwest.Midwest.

Ain't is one I still unconsciously avoid in professional settings though.

[–] FZDC@beehaw.org 1 points 7 months ago

I think Black English has been a major contributor towards towards mainstreaming "y'all" outside of the South. The rise of black stories being told on television and through film, plus the rise of hip hop/rap as a mainstream genre of music, has helped normalize certain phrases that used to only be associated with either the South or with black vernacular.

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