We’re moved to pose this question after listening to the almost 60-year-old taped radio broadcasts of then-roving crime reporter Marvin Zindler posted by the Chronicle’s “Bayou City History” blogger, J.R. Gonzales (this stuff is absolutely fascinating, by the way). Gonzales and several of his commentators noted the datedness of the soft, deeply Southern drawls of the crime victims (and perpetrators) in whose faces Zindler stuck his roving microphone. The kind of accent that you don’t hear that often these days, unless its from the mouth of a really, really old person. READ THE REST
I've noticed this too. Earlier this year, I was watching some KTRK archival film from the 50s and the voices were noticably Southern sounding. Forget a Texas accent, some of the people interviewed sounded like they were from the Deep South.
Houston has so many folks moving here from all over the world that it would be hard to maintain that Southern drawl. I was born and raised here (yeah can you believe you know an actual native Houstonian?) and it seemed like most of my friends had no identifiable accents (most of their parents were from other parts of the country or world). So much for audible roots.
Think about it, even the Kennedy family lost the NE accents. When Sen. Edward Kennedy passed away earlier this year, interviews with his son proved that point. Think back to JFK and Bobby - to us, those were pretty intense accents.
If you have time, listen to this interview from NPR's Talk of the Nation. It is with linguist David Crystal on regional accents. Interesting stuff.
