The U.S. has many regional accents shaped by place, race, and ancestry, but growing mobility and global media raise questions about their decline.
In New York, classic features like dropped R’s and raised vowels are fading among younger white, Latino, and Asian speakers, though some are increasing among Black New Yorkers.
Linguists note that accents aren’t disappearing — they’re evolving — and everyone has one, even those who sound “neutral.”
Accents change or fade over time because people move more, interact with others from different regions, and are influenced by national and global media.
These factors mix speech patterns and reduce the isolation that once helped strong regional accents form.
Younger generations often adopt a more “neutral” way of speaking to fit in socially or professionally, so local accents evolve instead of disappearing entirely.
Kids and teens’ accents change more because they’re still learning speech and adapt to fit in.
Constant exposure to diverse voices—from friends, media, and moving around—makes their accents more blended and less regional.
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