Why are old movies and news reports full of people talking with a weird, fast-paced, vaguely-British accent? It’s so iconic and distinctive that we treat it like a historical window into how the entire country of America once sounded.
But the truth is: Most people did not actually talk like that.
The Transatlantic (or Mid-Atlantic) accent was a made-up, manufactured accent. It was created during a time when America was trying to establish itself as a cultural power. And it was the predominant sound of actors, politicians and public figures during the 1920s, 30s, and 40s.
But then… it suddenly vanished.
So who created it and what killed it?
Let’s Make This Make Sense.
#accent #transatlanticaccent #midatlantic #makethismakesense
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