Nova Zhang
The English language has evolved differently in the United States and the United Kingdom since the two countries became politically independent in the late 18th century. The American accent has preserved some features of 17th-century British English, such as the pronunciation of the letter R in words like card and water. This is known as 'rhoticity' or 'rhotic accent'. However, it is inaccurate to say that Americans ever lost their British accent; instead, they formed a new accent influenced by the geographical expansion of the United States, waves of migration, and the mixing of various British dialects.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| British accent changed drastically | Since the 17th century |
| American accent | Changed only subtly |
| Rhoticity | Pronunciation of 'r' in words like 'card' and 'water' |
| Non-rhoticity | British English pronunciations |
| Old English accent | Used in the US |
| American accent | More natural |
| British accent | Changed in the 17th century |
| American accent | Preserved the 17th-century British accent |
| American accent | Influenced by migration |
| American accent | A dialect levelling of different British dialects |
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What You'll Learn
The British accent changed in the 17th century
The British accent underwent a significant change in the 17th century, creating a new standard British accent that differed from the accent used in the Americas. This change occurred around the time of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, which marked the beginning of the United States' political independence from Britain. The subsequent period of linguistic isolation for the US accelerated the divergence of British and American accents.
During the 17th century, the British accent shifted towards non-rhoticity, meaning the 'R' sound was no longer pronounced in certain words. This change was influenced by the upper classes, who adopted non-rhotic speech to distinguish themselves from the lower classes. The new accent became popular and was spread throughout the country by the armed forces and the BBC. Eventually, it became the standard accent in England, while traditional rhotic speech was preserved in Scotland, Ireland, and some parts of England.
In contrast, the American accent retained the rhotic pronunciation of the 'R' sound, as well as other features of 17th-century British speech. This preservation of older pronunciation patterns is particularly noticeable in remote areas of the US, leading to the argument that some Americans speak with an accent closer to Shakespearean English than modern Brits. However, it is important to note that there is no single "American accent," and accents within the US have also undergone changes and diversifications over time.
The evolution of the American accent was influenced by several factors, including the expansion of the United States westward, which created isolated pockets of speakers. The mix of different British dialects brought over by immigrants also played a role in shaping the unique sound of American English. This process, known as dialect leveling or koineization, resulted in the creation of a new accent that blended various British dialects.
While it is true that the British accent has changed more drastically than the American accent in recent centuries, it is important to note that language is constantly evolving. Both accents have been influenced by social, cultural, and geographical factors, leading to the rich variety of speech patterns we see today.
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American English has changed less than British English
It is often said that the American accent is like the British accent before the 17th century. In the 17th century, Britain saw a movement towards changing its accent, creating a new standard British accent. This was also when the UK and the US began to diverge politically, with the Declaration of Independence being signed in 1776. The geographical separation, as well as the expansion of the United States westward, contributed to the linguistic isolation of the new country, leading to the evolution of the American accent.
The American accent is, therefore, a dialect levelling of a number of different British dialects. For example, the retroflex 'R' in words like "park" and "car" has been in common practice in the accents of Southwest England for centuries. The same goes for all the vowel sounds that today distinguish American and British English. However, when people from different regions of England with varying accents started travelling to the New World, they ended up in the same parts of the new country, initiating a linguistic process of koineization, or dialect levelling.
As a result, the American accent today sounds more like the British accent of several centuries ago. For instance, Americans pronounce the 'R' in words like "card" and "water", a feature of most American English called 'rhoticity', which was also common among Brits in the 1600s. The standard British accent, on the other hand, has changed drastically in the past two centuries, with the upper class adopting a non-rhotic speech pattern to distinguish themselves from the lower classes.
Furthermore, the pronunciations of early colonists in the US have stuck around, whereas British English has continued to evolve. For example, the word "path" is pronounced with a broad 'A' in the US, whereas the British population now tends to pronounce it with a softer 'A'. This preservation of colonial-era pronunciations is especially apparent in certain remote areas of the US, leading to the argument that some places in the US have preserved Shakespearean English.
However, it is important to note that not all American accents are the same, and they have also changed over time, albeit less drastically than British accents. Additionally, while American English may resemble Shakespearean English in some ways, it has also evolved since Shakespeare's time, and he likely would not have sounded exactly like a modern American.
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Rhoticity and non-rhoticity
Rhoticity in English refers to the pronunciation of the consonant /r/ sound in all 'r' position contexts. Non-rhoticity, on the other hand, refers to the dropping of the /r/ sound in particular 'r' positions. Both rhotic and non-rhotic pronunciations can be found in British and American English-speaking people, as well as in other English-speaking countries.
American English is generally considered to be rhotic, while British English is considered non-rhotic. However, this is an oversimplification, as there are regional variations within both countries. For example, the Scottish accent, a variety of British English, is rhotic, while certain American accents, such as those from New York City and the Southern states, are non-rhotic.
The split between rhotic and non-rhotic pronunciation in English has its origins in London in the mid-19th century. Working-class speakers began dropping the /r/ sound at the ends of words, and over time, this change spread across social strata and geographic regions, eventually becoming the standard way of speaking in Britain. However, most of the colonizers who took English to North America left Britain before this change occurred, and due to limited communication between the two regions, North American English maintained the /r/ sound.
The loss of postvocalic /r/ in British English began to influence the accents of certain regions in the United States, particularly the seaside cities of the South and East, which had significant socio-economic interactions with England. As a result, the pronunciation of the upper-middle class in these regions became non-rhotic, while other social classes remained rhotic.
The biggest strongholds of non-rhoticity in the United States have traditionally been eastern New England, New York City, and the former plantation region of the South. However, non-rhoticity has been declining in these areas since the mid-20th century, with a strongly articulated /r/ becoming dominant throughout the South. African-American Vernacular English, on the other hand, remains largely non-rhotic, reflecting the historical non-rhotic speech patterns of the former plantation region.
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The influence of migration on the American accent
The notion that Americans still speak with the original British accent is a highly debated topic. While British English pronunciations have evolved since the Elizabethan era, some Americans do speak English with an accent more akin to Shakespeare's than to modern-day Brits. This is especially true in more isolated parts of the US, such as on islands and in mountains, where speech patterns from centuries ago have remained intact.
The divergence between British and North American English can be observed in the pronunciation of certain words. For instance, Americans tend to pronounce the 'r' in words like 'card' and 'water', a feature known as 'rhoticity'. Interestingly, Brits in the 1600s also pronounced their Rs, similar to modern-day Americans. Another difference lies in the pronunciation of the letter 'a' in words like 'path', where Americans tend to use a broader 'a' sound, resembling the pronunciation of early colonists.
Migration has played a significant role in shaping the American accent. The influence of 18th-century Protestant Ulster Scots immigrants, known as Scotch-Irish, in Appalachia led to the development of Appalachian English. Additionally, the 20th-century Great Migration brought African-American Vernacular English to the Great Lakes urban centres, influencing the everyday speech of many Americans, including hip-hop culture. Hispanic and Latino Americans have also developed their own varieties of English, such as Chicano English and New York Latino English.
The concept of a "General American" accent refers to a spectrum of American accents that lack noticeable local, ethnic, or cultural markers. This accent is often associated with broadcast mass media and highly educated speech. However, the idea of a single mainstream American accent is not supported by linguistic evidence, as regional accents continue to evolve and larger regional accents emerge.
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The Industrial Revolution's impact on language
The Industrial Revolution had a profound impact on the evolution of the English language, leading to changes in terminology and the way people spoke. As societies in Britain and America shifted from predominantly rural industry to industrialization, new terms had to be invented to accommodate the emerging technology. Many of these new inventions and their associated terminology were showcased at the 1851 Great Exhibition in London, including the "self-acting mill", "power looms", "steam press", and "cylindrical steam press". The need for standardized spelling and language regulation became increasingly important to prevent miscommunication in technical fields and trade.
The craftsmen and artisans who worked closely with machines and specialized materials were responsible for driving this linguistic progress. Works aimed at this audience adopted a more progress-oriented language, particularly in manuals and science-related publications. This cultural shift towards progress and innovation was significant in shaping the economy and society of the time.
The development of new technologies, such as the telephone and television, also played a role in shaping language evolution. For example, the word "hello" transitioned from informal street slang to common usage through the widespread adoption of the telephone, thanks in part to Thomas Edison's work in refining the device.
The Industrial Revolution also influenced the divergence between British and North American English. While Americans generally retained the rhotic accent of early British colonists, British English pronunciations evolved, leading to differences in the pronunciation of certain letters and words. For instance, Americans tend to pronounce the letter "r" in words like "card" and "water", while modern Brits may not pronounce it as strongly.
In summary, the Industrial Revolution had far-reaching effects on the English language, from the creation of new vocabulary to shifts in pronunciation and spelling standardization. These changes reflected the cultural and economic transformations occurring in Britain and America during this period.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes and no. The British accent has changed drastically over the last two centuries, while the American accent has changed more subtly. So, in some ways, the American accent today is more similar to the older British accent.
The American accent is a mixture of different British dialects. When people from different regions of Britain started migrating to the US, their accents mixed and, over time, the accent features that were most common came to overtake the others. This process is called dialect leveling or koineization.
In the 1700s, non-rhotic speech, where the 'R' sound is dropped from words, became popular and fashionable in Britain. This was seen as a marker of being rich and educated. The armed forces and BBC broadcasts helped spread this new accent, and it eventually became the standard.
Shakespearean English sounded much like American English sounds today. In Shakespeare's time, the British spoke with a rhotic accent, and they would have pronounced words like 'love' and 'prove' similarly to how Americans do today. However, it is important to note that there was no single "American accent" at the time, and Shakespeare's accent may have sounded like certain American accents of today but not others.
Yes, some British accents, particularly in the North East and South West of England, retain the rhotic 'R' sound that is also typical of American accents.
