What do you all think about Mike Huckabee's accent?
Mike Huckabee's accent
He was indeed born in Arkansas (Hope, 1955) yet his accent sounds rather Eastern establishment to me. I don't what things in Mr. Huckabee's life would have caused it to become that way. I know Al Gore spent most of his life outside of his home state of Tennessee so know surprise that he sounded Eastern establishment.
I once had a barber from Fayetteville, Arkansas who spoke with a strong twang, what some people might call a "hick" or "hayseed" accent. However, I think his was the true Arkansas accent not Mr. Huckabee's.
I once had a barber from Fayetteville, Arkansas who spoke with a strong twang, what some people might call a "hick" or "hayseed" accent. However, I think his was the true Arkansas accent not Mr. Huckabee's.
Brennus, what is an Eastern Establishment accent? I have never heard this term used in regards to accents or dialects.
Mike Huckabee does not use a strong Arkansas or Southern Midland dialect, but there are Southern Midland features present, which would make his dialect standout elsewhere in the country.
He has the LOT-CLOTH split, and lacks the LOT-THOUGHT merger. His vowel in THOUGHT-CLOTH can vary, but it sometimes echoes the typical variant from the Southern dialect region. He often drops the H in the word "humble", which is a feature associated with many areas of the South. He lacks the CARD-CORD merger, but it is difficult to tell whether or not he has the PIN-PEN merger.
I believe Al Gore often uses a stronger Southern dialect compared to Mike Huckabee. Gore has the PEN-PIN merger, and other features associated with the Southern Midland dialect region.
Mike Huckabee does not use a strong Arkansas or Southern Midland dialect, but there are Southern Midland features present, which would make his dialect standout elsewhere in the country.
He has the LOT-CLOTH split, and lacks the LOT-THOUGHT merger. His vowel in THOUGHT-CLOTH can vary, but it sometimes echoes the typical variant from the Southern dialect region. He often drops the H in the word "humble", which is a feature associated with many areas of the South. He lacks the CARD-CORD merger, but it is difficult to tell whether or not he has the PIN-PEN merger.
I believe Al Gore often uses a stronger Southern dialect compared to Mike Huckabee. Gore has the PEN-PIN merger, and other features associated with the Southern Midland dialect region.
I grew up in a rural area of Utah where the O and A sounds were often swapped. It was said we were the only place that had horpsecards.
1: I think Huckabee does have the pen-pin merger. I've gotten the impression that this is one of the most resilient Southern features - i.e., people will often adopt a basically GA accent but still retain the merger.
Lazar, I have noticed this as well. I have also noticed that many Southerners with adopted General American accents seem to retain the FILL-FEEL merger. I have also heard of others who retain their FELL-FAIL merger.
I do not hear very many Southern dialects on a daily basis, but the one feature I notice immediately is how many speakers of Southern and Southern-influenced dialects stress the first syllable (as opposed to the second syllable) in words such as insurance, cement, guitar, umbrella, Detroit, and require.
I do not hear very many Southern dialects on a daily basis, but the one feature I notice immediately is how many speakers of Southern and Southern-influenced dialects stress the first syllable (as opposed to the second syllable) in words such as insurance, cement, guitar, umbrella, Detroit, and require.