Summary myth 17

They Speak Really Bad English Down South and in New York City

There is a widespread believe in the US that some regional varieties are more standard than others and, indeed that some regional varieties are far from standard – particularly those of the South and New York City. People from Michigan seem to think that there accent is the “correct” accent, but they also believe they don’t have an accent. They believe that the South and NYC speak the most incorrect English. People from the South also say that NYC speaks bad English, but that the ratings for most pleasant English is in the South the highest. Because of people think of the South being rural and uneducated they seem to speak incorrect English such as they see New Yorkers as all murderers