Talk show host Johnny Carson, CNN Headline News personality Chuck Roberts and a vast majority of the nation’s telemarketers hail from a small portion of the Midwest where residents speak a neutral form of American English that cannot be identified with a region. The area stretches east from Peoria to Omaha, skims the north of
Des Moines: Where People Speak American
What’s an American accent? Think Walter Cronkite. Even though the world-famous newscaster was born in Missouri, Cronkite sounded like he was from nearby Des Moines, the place linguistics believe is the center of a small area where people speak English free of accents, stresses and localisms.
This is your first of three free stories this month. Become a free or sustaining member to read unlimited articles, webinars and ebooks.
Become A Member