Date:  Thu, 25 Nov 1993 05:33:03 -0600

From:  Natalie Maynor <maynor[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]RA.MSSTATE.EDU>

Subject: Re: diversity of accents



>I'm really interested in all the responses, since I looked for citations for my

>dissertation from linguists refuting the myth that television would lead to

>homogeneity in Am. Eng. and it was hard to find this discussion in print

>anywhere.



I also have looked in vain for print discussion of this topic. I was looking

for it because somebody once asked me what evidence I had for my casual

comment that television and radio have not affected dialectal diversity in

the U.S. -- *except in lexicon*. I finally had to give up and reply that

the lack of evidence that there has been such influence leads us to believe

that there hasn't been.



Although I've never dealt with this topic in any work I was doing for

publication, I've mentioned it from time to time in teaching or in

general conversation and have pointed out that our speech does not seem

to be affected very much by listening to somebody on television or radio --

that interaction is required for such influence to occur (except in lexicon).

I don't know why I "know" this, however, and will appreciate the help if

anybody can tell me why I think I know it.



I've always said "except in lexicon" because it has always seemed common

sensical to me that the media do influence lexicon.

  --Natalie (maynor[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]ra.msstate.edu)