[Inyo-Mono]

I took a one semester linguistics class in college and was fascinated to discover that the Southern “drawl’ is closest to the English accent as spoken in the 18th Century in America. To this day, both Southern and British speakers use the word “reckon” frequently.

[vimto]

we use the word "reckon" in Wales a lot.

we reckon that this or that is worth doing....

I reckon I'll cut the grass today

that sort of thing?

[reformedliberal]

To this day, both Southern and British speakers use the word “reckon” frequently.

I have noticed that. *Reckon* is also used by the other Commonwealth peoples, such as Aussies, Kiwis and South Africans.

When I watch British TV shows, however, I usually have to put on the captions in order to get every word, especially if there are Scots or Northern accents. Hearing and seeing at the same time has helped me to be able to understand more easily without the captions. The last time we traveled to Australia and NZ, it was much easier to understand everyone.

I wonder if the difference, over 25 years, was the prevalence of American media in those countries. Perhaps the Anglo-sphere is tending towards a more common pronunciation?

I have lived in the central & northern US all my life and there was a difference from central Illinois to Wisconsin that I noticed when I moved north forty years ago. Today, I can only sometimes pinpoint the differences, such as *pin* for pen in people from the more southern of the central plains.

I think American regional accents are gradually trending more toward a common *American* accent. Since I like the southern and the tidewater accents, I think this is sort of sad.