English in America: A Linguistic History Season 1 Episode 5 Where Is General American English?

Where Is General American English? is the fifth episode of the first season of English in America: A Linguistic History. This episode explores the search for the elusive "General American" accent and the factors that have contributed to its evolution.

The episode dives into the origins of General American and how it came to be perceived as the most prestigious American accent. The search for this accent began in the early 20th century when linguists began to realize that there was a distinct pattern in the speech of broadcast journalists and newscasters. This pattern was characterized by a lack of regionalisms and a pronunciation that was seen as neutral and authoritative.

As the episode progresses, viewers learn about the challenges of defining and identifying General American. The quest was complicated by the diversity of accents across the country, the reluctance of many Americans to adopt an accent that wasn't native to them, and the rise of regionalisms in the speech of many newscasters and broadcasters.

Despite these challenges, the episode highlights the continued relevance of General American in the modern era. The accent is still used by many prominent newscasters and politicians, and it continues to be perceived as the most prestigious American accent.

Throughout the episode, viewers will also get an introduction to some of the key features of General American, including its distinctive lack of regionalisms, its emphasis on rhoticity (the pronunciation of the "r" sound in words like "hard" and "car"), and its tendency to use a more open vowel in words like "lot" and "father".

The episode concludes by exploring some of the factors that have led to changes in General American over time. This includes the influence of technology (such as the rise of broadcast media) and social factors (such as the increasing cultural acceptance of regional accents).

Overall, Where Is General American English? provides a fascinating exploration of one of the most iconic American accents. Viewers will come away with a deeper understanding of this accent's history, features, and ongoing evolution.