In recent years, the Southern accent, a hallmark of regional identity, has been fading among younger generations in cities like Atlanta. Susan Levine, who grew up in Atlanta during the 1940s and 1950s, recalls how her Southern accent once captivated her New York relatives, who would charge friends to hear her speak. However, her sons, born decades later, do not share that same accent. Ira Levine, her oldest son, describes his accent as “nonexistent,” which highlights a significant shift in how Southern accents are perceived and adopted.
Research indicates that this change is not unique to the Levine family. A growing number of young people in the South, particularly in urban areas, are abandoning the traditional Southern drawl. This trend is largely attributed to an influx of newcomers from other parts of the U.S. and the world. Over 5.8 million people have moved to the South in the 2020s alone, outpacing migration to other regions. As these new residents settle in, they bring different speech patterns, contributing to the decline of the classic Southern accent.
Linguists have documented this phenomenon, noting that the Southern accent’s prevalence peaked among baby boomers but has since decreased among Gen Xers and younger generations. A recent study found that many young people today prefer to sound more neutral, avoiding strong regional markers. This shift is partly driven by a desire to distance themselves from stereotypes that associate Southern accents with a lack of education.
The decline is particularly pronounced among Black residents in Atlanta. Many have returned to the South after the Great Migration, which saw African Americans leave the region for northern cities. Their grandchildren, now moving back, tend to be more educated and less likely to adopt the traditional Southern accent. This trend is evident in the speech patterns of Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012.
In Raleigh, North Carolina, a similar trend has been observed since the establishment of the Research Triangle Park in 1959. The park attracted highly educated workers from outside the South, leading to a notable decline in Southern accents among white residents born after 1979.
Interestingly, the unique “yat” accent of New Orleans, which has distinct characteristics, is also diminishing. The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 displaced many locals and brought in new residents, leading to a significant change in the local speech patterns.
Despite these changes, experts believe that the Southern accent will not disappear entirely. Accents are a key part of how people express their identity. As younger generations redefine what it means to be Southern, they may still hold on to elements of their regional heritage, even if it sounds different from what their parents or grandparents spoke.