Is the Southern Accent Leaving Mississippi? (job, countries, occupation)

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by oldenfatt

Mass media is killing the southern accent, not just in Mississippi. I personally believe that a strong Southern accent places you at a disadvantage when dealing with non-Southerners who associate that accent with the negative stereotypes they so love to perpetuate.

I agree with you there, local news stations wont even hire newscasters with a southern accent.

[marighand]

a lot of my professors have thick accents and pronounce some words very oddly. i'm from the south but mississippi is definitely not losing its accent. until civilization and economy comes to this state the southern accent is staying.

[jacksonian]

Another variable is occupation. In my experience, jobs that are more centered around the southern culture, like farming, forestry, almost anything outdoors, etc tend to have a higher percentage of stronger southern accents. Offices with desk jobs are the opposite. My dad is a forester and has a strong southern accent. I, on the other hand, sit at a computer desk 80-90% of the time, and although I still have a southern accent, it is not anywhere near like my father's, except when I am around him for a while, and then my accent gets stronger like his. It's an odd spectacle.

[Northfielder]

Originally Posted by piano88keys

I don't think with all the voice training in the world, that the accent can completely leave. I've been trained professionally; when I sing, or when I am in "work mode" -- talking to colleagues, making business calls, etc -- I have been commented that I have a great radio or tv voice, and have been asked where I was from. They (the business people) are always surprised when I say I am from Mississippi... pretty much all my life!

But now... when I get excited, upset, or just generally any kind of severe emotion, that southern twang comes out! LOL I think it's that way with most professionals in this area.

The problem with our delightful accents is that people from other areas hear the accent and automatically think we are ignorant, stupid, take your pick of synonyms. It's pretty bad to be judged just from the way we sound. *grr*

well....unfortunately or fortunately, people do get judged by the way they 'sound' (or even how they dress, walk, etc)

If you sound for example, like a hoodlum or street gangster, that's how people will tend you judge you

If you dress with pants falling off your butt with your baggy undergarments showing, most people will make a value judgment about you

If you sound like a back woods hick or farmer, people similarly might make some assumptions about your intellect-----they 'MIGHT'---it's a possibility

Mississippi whites still make snide comments about the accents of their black fellow Mississippi citizens, and MS has a very very large 'southern' black population

Mississippi whites are to label the 'accent' of their own citizens as 'stupid sounding'- I've heard many whites from MS say JUST THAT !! but they don't want to be labeled as 'sounding stupid' ! bigoted stuff

[tb4000]

Look at somebody like Holly Hunter...you know she's got that slight twangy lisp to her, being from Conyers, GA, but she doesn't come off like some bumpkin fresh from the foothills. All in how you present yourself.

[jacksonian]

I'm white, and I love hearing the southern black accent. How could anyone not? After all, it is that from which the blues originated.

That being said, there is a huge difference between the southern black accent and the want-to-be gangster accent, which is so far beyond comprehension that it makes my head hurt. It's terrible how much that lifestyle has influenced the youth of Mississippi. Reputation, whether it be good or bad (mostly bad), takes precedence over everything else, including family, religion, education, etc...

[MrsMo]

My son is seeing a lovely young lady and I was shocked when she told us she was from Mississippi. No accent. Once in a while when she gets excited telling a story I'll hear a little of that drawl

[lelliepate]

Originally Posted by A&M Bulldawg

Is the Southern Accent Leaving Mississippi?

HECK NO! I recently went with a group of folks from my college to Anaheim, CA to a national convention there, and everyone wanted to just listen to us speak. I had one guy to ask if he could turn his camera on and just tape me talking while trying to make a few folks some sweet tea with a coffee maker in my hotel room. I don't see our accent dying anytime soon. You ought to come down and check it out for yourself. Why we are the hospitality state , BTW. lol.
LESLIE ANTHONY
Meridian, MS
"601"

[winkatme]

It has definitely made an exit from the coast and other urban areas.

[AmorytoGriffin]

The southern accent will leave everywhere else before it leaves MS. I don't think it is going anywhere anytime soon.