I've always been interested in phonetics, especially English accents, since reading Pygmalion in school.
I'm from the midwest. I would say I speak with a midwest accent, (or Indiana accent), but I've heard so many different subtle accents here, I wouldn't want to pin myself down to one that you might hear on while passing through the state.
I saw a behind the scenes show on the movie "The Hunt for Red October" and the guy playing the senator who talks to the Russian ambassador is supposed to be from Indiana and have an "Indiana Accent". I've heard a lot around this state, but never heard anyone speak like that!
It's funny when you live in a rather homogeneous area and know or work with one person with an accent from another place. Often the local people are amused by it and constantly mimic it. Even though they mean no harm by it, I bet it drives the person with the accent crazy.
Exactly!
Wild birds have regional accents, too, according to scientists who study such things.
That's pretty interesting. That's the kind of Discovery Channel show I would watch but would probably make most people want to jump out a window.