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The Southern Accent

The southern accent. It is one of the most recognizable of the various American “dialects.” Like many of these speech styles, there are various types of southern accents. Having spent my formative years in the south, I had grown quite accustomed to hearing the southern accent in its many forms. But, I did not feel that I spoke with any discernible inflection. Over the years, though, an accent would occasionally become noticeable, especially when traveling outside of the south. Something I said or, rather, the way I said it, would cause others to react. Even the most harmless of comments would elicit curious looks from those around me. It was as if they could tell something about my speech was different, but could not pinpoint exactly what it was. Though it did not happen often, my style of speech seemed to prove confusing.

In 2001, I traveled to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to visit a friend. The airport most convenient to Hilton Head was located some sixty miles away, in Savannah, Georgia. Upon arriving in Savannah, I took a shuttle service to my friend’s home on Hilton Head. In addition to myself, there were four other passengers in the shuttle van, all of whom appeared to be in their 40’s and early 50’s.

 After dropping off the first two passengers, the driver, a friendly older gentleman began asking a number of questions . . . What we did for a living. What brought us to Hilton Head Island. The inquiries one typically makes when starting a conversation with strangers. One of the other passengers had a fairly distinct southern accent. But the rest spoke without a hint of distinction. For some reason, though, the driver chose to single me out.
“Where are you from,” he asked.

“. . . Born and raised in Atlanta, ” I replied.

"Really,” he responded with obvious surprise. “You don’t sound like you’re from the south!”
What could I say? I had been suspected of having an accent in the past. But, no one had ever commented on my not having an accent.

After a long pause, I said the only thing that came to mind: “ . . . ummm. . .  Thank you?”
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