# The mid-Atlantic accent--would it be possible to cultivate it? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 5, 2012, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mid-atlantic-accent-would-it-be-possible-to-cultivate-it/636773 "2012-10-05T02:53:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mid-atlantic-accent-would-it-be-possible-to-cultivate-it/636773/21 "2012-10-07T18:17:35Z")
Tina Turner has been reported of late to be sporting a fashionably British accent. Eartha Kitt’s diction had more of the French about it, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mid-atlantic-accent-would-it-be-possible-to-cultivate-it/636773/22 "2012-10-08T04:02:15Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I always assumed his accent was British. But anyway, of course you could adopt a new accent. Look how it worked out for Madonna. Cary Grant had a very strange accent. It wasn’t any sort of British or American that I’ve ever heard even though he originated from Britain and spent most of his adult life in the US. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mid-atlantic-accent-would-it-be-possible-to-cultivate-it/636773/23 "2012-10-08T11:50:07Z")
> [@Imasquare](#): > > Cary Grant had a very strange accent. It wasn’t any sort of British or American that I’ve ever heard even though he originated from Britain and spent most of his adult life in the US. That is strange. I wonder what one would call such an accent! ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mid-atlantic-accent-would-it-be-possible-to-cultivate-it/636773/24 "2012-10-08T21:53:53Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > The op is talking about the early 20th century neutral acting dialect (accent) which was called “mid Atlantic” because it blended Upper class British and American accents to give an overall impression of being upper crust without typing you to a specific location. Why I think the only thing that needs blending is a a stiff drink down at the local speakeasy! Preferably with a hot dame! That’d be aces in my book! Maybe you read it? It’s called “How to Talk like an Olde-Timey Movie Star!” And watch out for that Hitler! He’s a bad egg! ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mid-atlantic-accent-would-it-be-possible-to-cultivate-it/636773/25 "2012-10-11T02:08:05Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > That is strange. I wonder what one would call such an accent! A Cary Grant accent. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mid-atlantic-accent-would-it-be-possible-to-cultivate-it/636773/26 "2012-10-11T02:09:16Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Tina Turner has been reported of late to be sporting a fashionably British accent. Eartha Kitt’s diction had more of the French about it, I think. I heard what I thought was a French song on the wireless a few days ago. I was surprised when it was back announced as Eartha Kitt. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mid-atlantic-accent-would-it-be-possible-to-cultivate-it/636773/27 "2012-10-11T13:32:47Z")
> [@Imasquare](#): > > I heard what I thought was a French song on the wireless a few days ago. I was surprised when it was back announced as Eartha Kitt. The “wireless”? What were you doing? Listening to the BBC for word on Amelia Earhart’s flight? ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mid-atlantic-accent-would-it-be-possible-to-cultivate-it/636773/28 "2012-10-11T14:08:13Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > The “wireless”? What were you doing? Listening to the BBC for word on Amelia Earhart’s flight? I’m showing my age. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mid-atlantic-accent-would-it-be-possible-to-cultivate-it/636773/29 "2012-10-11T14:16:38Z")
OK, it’s just bizarre how the word \*wireless \*falls into two very separate historical periods, with a big gap in between. The 100-years-ago wireless (n.) and today’s wireless (adj.) technology. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mid-atlantic-accent-would-it-be-possible-to-cultivate-it/636773/30 "2012-10-11T14:54:03Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Cary Grant had a Mid-Atlantic Accent? I don’t think so… > > Mid-Atlantic to me is sort of the Baltimore-Phlly accent. Not the same at either end, of course, but some similarities. Think Chis Matthews for the Baltimore part. As others have pointed out, “Mid-Atlantic accent” is not a reference to the Mid-Atlantic states of the United States. > [@Imasquare](#): > > I heard what I thought was a French song on the wireless a few days ago. I was surprised when it was back announced as Eartha Kitt. “[Je cherche un homme](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UKZkB971jU)”? “[C’est si bon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BvL-i--8Ws&feature=related)”? Eartha Kitt recorded songs in seven different languages. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mid-atlantic-accent-would-it-be-possible-to-cultivate-it/636773.md?page=1)