Southern Dialects and Vowel Shifts

The video explores the linguistic features of Southern American English, focusing on Kevin Spacey's accent in House of Cards. It discusses r-dropping, a feature of several dialects, and its historical context in both British and Southern US English. The video also covers ay-ungliding, a key feature of Southern dialects, and the associated vowel shifts. These linguistic elements are examined in terms of their historical development and current usage, particularly in the Southern US.

What is the primary feature of Kevin Spacey's accent when playing Frank Underwood in House of Cards?

• Ay-ungliding

• Consonant elongation

• R-dropping

• Vowel shifting

Where did the r-dropping feature originally emerge?

• Western Europe

• Southern United States

• Northern United States

• Southern Britain

Which group in the US was known for adopting r-dropping after it spread from Britain?

• Midwestern farmers

• East Coast elites

• Western pioneers

• Northern industrialists

Why might Lindsey Graham's speech not exhibit r-dropping?

• Influence from Irish settlers

• Influence from French settlers

• Influence from Spanish settlers

• Influence from German settlers

What is the main feature that unites Southern dialects according to the transcript?

• R-dropping

• Ay-ungliding

• Consonant elongation

• Vowel reduction

How does the /ay/ vowel sound in Southern speech compared to non-Southern speech?

• It is silent

• It is elongated

• It sounds more like 'ah' than 'ay'

• It has two parts

In Southern speech, when is ay-ungliding typically used?

• Before voiced consonants or at the end of a word

• Before voiceless consonants

• At the beginning of a sentence

• In the middle of a word

What happens to the ey-sound in Southern vowel shifts?

• It becomes silent

• It becomes elongated

• It shifts lower in the mouth

• It shifts higher in the mouth

Which vowel sound moves forward to the front of the mouth in Southern speech?

• Oo-sound

• Eh-sound

• Ey-sound

• Ah-sound

Why are vowel shifts important for actors trying to sound Southern?

• They are more dramatic

• They are less noticeable

• They are easier to learn

• They are the key to sounding authentic