Standard US English Dialect?

[LanDi Liu]

On Sun, Apr 13, 2008 at 8:37 PM, Dennis Preston <preston at msu.edu> wrote:

> Well, we know a great deal about middle class (and working class)
> pronunciation in New York City. William Labov's Social Stratification
> of English in New York City (CAL, 1966) would be the first place to
> look. The myth that different boroughs have different accents is hard
> to do away with; it stems largely from the fact that different social
> classes tend to live in different boroughs.

In 1966, I would think that class and accent had a much greater
relationship in NYC than now.

> "Midwestern" is not a dialect area of the US, but you can find the
> pronunciation of  various areas I guess people would call "Midwest"
> represented in the newer Labov, Ash, and Boberg Atlas of North
> American English (Mouton de Gruyter 2006).

In his terms it would be "Midland", but I hadn't heard that term
before his book came out.

> Washington DC is the capital of the US, not NYC.

Ouch.  Whoops!  : )
>
>
> dInIs
>
>
> >---------------------- Information from the mail header
> >-----------------------
> >Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> >Poster:       LanDi Liu <strangeguitars at GMAIL.COM>
> >Subject:      Re: Standard US English Dialect?
> >-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> >I've found that idea here in China a lot too.  Before I came to China
> >I had lived in NYC for several years, so when people ask me where I'm
> >from, usually I say New York, and then they think then that my accent
> >must be standard.  I think my accent is pretty standard, but that has
> >nothing to do with NYC.  Most people believe that the midwestern
> >accent is the most "standard", but I have never seen a full
> >description of it.  One of the things I plan on doing one of these
> >days is transcribing the speech of several midwestern newscasters to
> >see if I can formulate a good description of it.  Once I do, I'll let
> >everyone know, so they can rip it apart. : )
> >
> >As far as NYC middle class goes, that means very little as far as
> >accents go.  Because of the large amount of people that live in NYC
> >that weren't born there, and the fact that different boroughs in NYC
> >have different accents to begin with, and the fact that class and
> >accent aren't so easily correlated anymore, I don't think anyone could
> >say what a NYC middle class accent is.  So probably the people in
> >Japan and China (and elsewhere) think capital = standard.  Most people
> >think Beijing Chinese is standard, but that's a myth as well.
> >
> >Randy
> >
> >On Sun, Apr 13, 2008 at 1:58 AM, chris bennett <quiddity9 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >>  ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> >>-----------------------
> >>   Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> >>   Poster:       chris bennett <quiddity9 at HOTMAIL.COM>
> >>   Subject:      Standard US English Dialect?
> >>
> >>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >>
> >>   Hello,
> >>   My girlfriend is Japanese/American and believes standard US dialect =3D
> >>   is that of the middle class of New York City. She believes this because =
> >>   =3D
> >>   many of her ESL learning friends have been told this and they generally =
> >>   =3D
> >>   seek NYC tutors. She reminded me that Tokyo Japanese is the standard, =
> >>   =3D
> >>   which may lend support to her NYC idea.
> >>   =20
> >>   I've searched online for the answer and have had no luck. =3D
> >>   Personally, I was under the impression that midwestern dialects were =3D
> >>   generally accepted as "standard" US English dialect. My grandfather =3D
> >>   worked for the Voice of America and was always impressed by the foreign =
> >>   =3D
> >>   broadcasters (Russia's version of the VOA, etc.) who spoke with a =3D
> >>   perfect Ohio type dialect. I've also seen Deutsche Welle newscasters =3D
> >>   with the Ohio dialect.
> >>   =20
> >>   Are you able to shed any light on the matter?
> >>   =20
> >>   Thanks much,
> >>   Christian Bennignus
> >>
> >>   ------------------------------------------------------------
> >>   The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >--
> >Randy Alexander
> >Jilin City, China
> >
> >------------------------------------------------------------
> >The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>
>
>
> --
> Dennis R. Preston
> University Distinguished Professor
> Department of English
> Morrill Hall 15-C
> Michigan State University
> East Lansing, MI 48864 USA
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org
>



--
Randy Alexander
Jilin City, China

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org