How the States Got Their Shapes (2010)

Episode Overview

Despite sharing the same nation, our accents vary widely. This variation is largely influenced by geography. For instance, why did the southern drawl emerge only post-Civil War? How did athletes from California contribute to the creation of new vocabulary? We also grapple with numerous terms for identical items—like pop versus soda. Could a distinctive accent lead to New York seceding and forming a 51st state? These questions explore the fascinating complexities of regional dialects and their evolution throughout history.