like whom do you sound?

[Creag]

I was raised in the Deep South (Southeastern US to those unfamilar with the idiom) in the late 60s and early 70s. At the time, the news reports seemed to be filled with terrible things caused by ignorant or hateful people in my part of the world. With the exception of the aforementioned Andy Griffith, every person in the mass media with a "Southern" accent was portrayed as ignorant, foolish, and ususally venal.

I suppose that due to the negative connotations I associated with my own speech, I subconsciously emulated newscasters and others with the generic "Mid-Atlantic" accent. That is how I sound most often.

I also grew up in the 70's Deep South and, for the same reasons, made a bit of a conscious effort to do away with my accent. Over time I figured out that it is the content and delivery, not the accent, that matters and I've relaxed and allowed some Southern accent and Southern phrases back in. I try to be an ambassador for what is good about the South and Southerners. Mrs. Jones tells me that my accent becomes more pronounced at family reunions out in the country.

But more to the point of the post, I've never been told that I sound like anyone famous.