'Why We Talk Funny.' The reasons behind our accents, with Valerie Fridland

1179. This week, we talk to Valerie Fridland, a linguist and professor who grew up in Memphis surrounded by Southern accents and now researches the history and social power of speech. We look at her new book, "Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents," which explores the history of how American speech developed and how colonial settlement patterns shaped regional identities. Then we look at the decline of regional accents, the mechanics of speech sounds like "L" and "R," and the psychological impact of accent bias. Get Valerie’s new book, " Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents." More from Valerie at valeriefridland.com 🔗 Join the Grammar Girl Patreon. 🔗 Share your familect recording in Speakpipe or by leaving a voicemail at 833-214-GIRL (833-214-4475) 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses . 🔗

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'Why We Talk Funny.' The reasons behind our accents, with Valerie Fridland is an episode from Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by Mignon Fogarty, Inc..

This episode is 33:00 long.

This episode was published on Apr 23, 2026.

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