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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Mike Schneider

America is saying goodbye to the Southern accent

South Leo XIV United States Atlanta Richard Beck New Orleans Georgia Tech The United States
Michelle and Richard Beck, right, stand outside their Atlanta-area home Thursday, May 1, 2025. They are Gen Xers who speak with southern accents while their Gen Z sons, Dylan and Richard, left, do not. (AP Photo/ Sharon Johnson) - (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Atlanta’s distinct Southern drawl, a dialect instantly recognizable across the United States for its elongated vowels and softened "r" sounds, has faded across generations, even within the same family.

Susan Levine, raised in Atlanta during the 1940s and 50s, recalls her New York relatives turning her accent into a novelty act, charging friends a quarter to hear her speak.

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