y'all

yonder

reckon

I have somewhat of an interest in regionalism both in speech and in regional foods. In fact, I enjoy watching true crime shows on television and "placing" an accent to within a state or two based on the speech of the interviewd persons.

Though I have a doctorate, my speech in everyday life retains the flavor of Appalachia, albeit a "mill hill" of the central piedmont version. Actually, I like it, and I can put a damper on it when the need arises.

Given the constant audio and video media in which we in Western civilization exist, I always thought that regional variations in accent and speech would have been erased. However, I notice these variations more.

Perhaps variations help identify us and promote a sense of community and bonding.