last week i went on a bit about the american fascination with an english accent, or at least something that sounds like one. in a fit of future thinking, enhanced no doubt by liberal use of painkillers, i made a prediction that within a century we’d all be talking like brits because the accent has become so common on american tv shows. in keeping with that theme, i thought that this week i’d relate something i found interesting as told to carol and i by a londoner. this chap claims we actually already speak with an english accent — specifically one with a twang that would sound very similar to that of his own 18th-century ancestors. according to him, the posh royal crowd in the uk has long had the habit of tweaking its style of speech, throwing in affectations and mannerisms they find themselves chuffed about. as those changes to the accent become fashionable, they trickle out to other parts of their society. as a result, you have not only a hodgepodge of accents throughout the kingdom, but a language that sounds very different from what it did 200 years ago. the colonists, on the other hand, were too busy fighting indians and starvation to worry much about talking fancy. as a result our own accents have stayed relatively static over the years. whatever y’all, i’m just glad i talk mostly like a texan and that we no longer wear funny hats or shoes with big silver buckles on them.
also in keeping with last week’s theme, here’s two more images of some citizens from the beautiful countryside of scotland.
ewe and me: think they talk sheepishly with a scottish brogue?
lamb at sunset, scottish highlands, 2009
Hope you are doing well in Indiana!
by will
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