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Yeah, I think the stereotype of the "Chicago accent" grossly exaggerates the general situation in 2010.
With millions of people in the metro now being hispanic, black or asian, as well as the large numbers of people that have moved away since the 1960's, only to be replaced by large numbers moving in from around the Midwest since the early 1990's - the hard core Chicago accent is definitely an exception than any rule.
I've been here for 9 years now from elsewhere in the Midwest, and I never really noticed any accent, and no one back home has ever mentioned that I've developed one. It's pretty much a non-issue in the city as far as people talking about this accent.
Once in awhile I will hear a really Ditka or SNL "Da Bears" accent, but it's more of a novelty.
I agree. I think that the older "Chicago Accent" is going the way of the older "New York Accent" and will become less and less common as time goes on (however, despite many claims to the contrary, regional accents are not dying, I have relatives younger than I am in New England, and you can tell the moment they open their mouths, or at least I can, and they all joke that they can tell I'm from Chicago, or at least the northern Midwest). That being said, there are larger regional accent trends within the US that are alive and well, and changing even as we speak, and type.
I think the president has a neutral accent. He doesn't sound like someone from Chicago ( the few I've spoke to from Chicago ), but occasionally, he will have a North Carolina/Virginia-type accent if you listen to some of his speeches; particularly if it is an emotional speech, or when his passionate-side comes out.
I find his speech to be very generic, almost like a TV news anchor.
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