Why do Americans have American accents?

[mark vincent]

How did the American accent evolve, i have read that the American accent is Rhotic like the Scots, Irish, and Cornish accents but the First immigrants to America were from southern England which isn't Rhotic so how come they speak the way they do?

 

[joinerjohn]

It developed , not only from the English , Scots , Welsh and Irish, but from Dutch, French, German mix of immigrants. Also, you have to bear in mind that spoken English in the 16th century, when a lot of the immigration occurred, would have sounded a lot different from what we hear nowadays.

 

[EddieM]

How did the American accent evolve, i have read that the American accent is Rhotic like the Scots, Irish, and Cornish accents but the First immigrants to America were from southern England which isn't Rhotic so how come they speak the way they do?

speak and spell... clearly. either that or Stephen hawking taught them.

 

[Micilin]

It developed , not only from the English , Scots , Welsh and Irish, but from Dutch, French, German mix of immigrants. Also, you have to bear in mind that spoken English in the 16th century, when a lot of the immigration occurred, would have sounded a lot different from what we hear nowadays.

As you say - and local dialects were nore distinct rather than the merging now due to media and travel.

If you look at old poetry you can someitmes see rhymes that don't work today in Standard English

eg

Pope pronounced 'tea' as 'tay' in 'Rape of the Lock'

"Here thou, great Anna! whom three realms obey,
Dost sometimes counsel take—and sometimes tea."

(which is still used in some parts today)