[yarddog]

I too have read, maybe here on FR that Southern U.S. English is closer to what was spoken in say, the 1700s than modern Englishmen speak.

Of course there are many variations in different parts of the South. I recall a girl from Chester, South Carolina whose drawl was so thick I had real trouble understanding her. It didn’t matter because she was so pretty that I could have just stood there watching her and been happy.

[Gabz]

I too have read, maybe here on FR that Southern U.S. English is closer to what was spoken in say, the 1700s than modern Englishmen speak.

Tangier, VA is an example of something along those lines. It is a small Island in the Chesapeake Bay - and it is very interesting trying to carry on a conversation with one of the old time fishermen!