Regional accents thrive in U.S. -- but is that a good thing? (fwd link)

[Phillip E Cash Cash]

Regional accents thrive in U.S. -- but is that a good thing?

This story started on CNN iReport
By Rachel Rodriguez, CNN
September 29, 2011 -- Updated 1155 GMT (1955 HKT)

(CNN) -- Hours of TV each day. The internet. Increased travel and mobility.

All these factors expose us to culture and voices on a national rather
than local scale. But if you think all this exposure is homogenizing
our language, think again. Regional accents are going strong around
the United States, bringing with them all kinds of cultural flavor.

If you're one of the many that assume all this media exposure must be
homogenizing the American accent, you're not alone. It sounds like a
logical hypothesis: The accents heard in the media are far-reaching
and pervasive, so local accents must be on the decline as the
population is exposed to all this "standardized" speech. But experts
say it's a common misconception that has no basis in fact.

"There is zero evidence for television or the other popular media
disseminating or influencing sound changes or grammatical
innovations," wrote linguist J.K. Chambers in a 2006 essay for PBS.
And experts agree that regional accents around the United States are
alive and well.

Access full article below:
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/09/29/living/american-accents-ireport/