At least some types of particularity can maintain themselves these days, but I’m not sure what it shows: Despite the sameness of U.S. media, regional dialects refuse to blend.
thoughts in and out of season
At least some types of particularity can maintain themselves these days, but I’m not sure what it shows: Despite the sameness of U.S. media, regional dialects refuse to blend.
I think it means that local
I think it means that local languages are developing. Without centralized control the differences would be more acute. But there is still a strong desire to define differences based on location and language is one way. Heck, a continent of this size should have more than three major languages.
On the studies’ website:
http://www.ling.upenn.edu/phonoatlas/home.html#regional
My town is right on the divide between two dialects; Midland and South Midland. I can confirm this; I hear, and sometimes use, both.