Is a New York Accent Considered Cute or Weird?
Over the years, numerous anecdotes have indicated that attitudes towards New York accents are mixed, but often negative. Let's examine this through the lens of historical and contemporary experiences.Personal Experiences and Real-Life Anecdotes
Back in the mid-1990s, I met a New Yorker who was determined to get rid of her New York accent during her time in Europe. She found her accent so unpleasant that she was eager to lose it. In her eyes, it was not simply a matter of regional identity but an undesirable quality that she wished to eliminate.
On another occasion, returning from a two-year stay in Europe, I delved into linguistics at university. I was taught about a sociolinguistic study conducted in New York in the 1960s or early 1970s, possibly by someone named Lakoff. This study sought to understand how different accents in New York were associated with class differentiation. The non-rhotic accent, characterized by dropping the 'r' after vowels, was often linked to working-class areas like Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens.
The experiment involved visiting department stores frequented by different socioeconomic groups. When a wealthy individual was found to have the non-rhotic accent, she was deeply disturbed and attempted to change her accent. This incident highlighted how strongly certain accents can define one's social identity and affect self-perception.
My personal observations of American attitudes also suggest that New York accents are often seen as odd or undesirable. Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Queens accents are frequently mocked or even the subject of ridicule. This indicates a prevalent negative perception in the United States towards these dialects.
Sociolinguistic and Regional Prejudices
Historically, negative judgments about accents tend to be regional or local. Therefore, accents most negatively perceived in a country are often judged harshly by its own inhabitants. For instance, certain American accents, such as Bostonian, Southern, or New Yorker, are sometimes deemed ‘dumb, unintelligent, or untrustworthy.’ However, non-Americans who encounter these accents for the first time often do not share these prejudices.
Research in linguistics taught me that Australians, for example, attribute negative qualities to those speaking with a broad Australian accent, especially women. Similarly, in the UK, the most negatively stereotyped accents are Cockney, Brummie (Birmingham), Scouse (Liverpool), and West Yorkshire accents. However, Australians, Canadians, Kiwis, and Americans generally do not share these stereotypes.
The interconnected nature of the world today, where people are frequently exposed to different English accents via digital media and platforms like YouTube, raises an interesting question: Have these regional prejudices begun to overlap in recent decades?
Some of the most negatively perceived accents in the United States include Boston and certain New England accents, along with specific New York accents. Other accents such as L.A. or Texan are generally not as negatively viewed.
Conclusion
While personal experiences and sociolinguistic studies suggest that New York accents are often considered 'strange' rather than 'cute,' this perception is largely shaped by local prejudices. What is considered acceptable or desirable in one region may be viewed quite differently in another. The interconnectedness of our world has the potential to lead to a more global understanding and appreciation of regional dialects.
However, it remains important for everyone to recognize that accents are not solely indicators of intelligence or desirability. They are a reflection of diverse cultural and social backgrounds, and appreciating this diversity can lead to a more inclusive and respectful society.