"Winterers" in Antarctica are developing their own accent
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
United States
December 12, 2019 6:27pm CST
A group of "winterers" (that is, scientist in Antarctica) have started to develop their own accent. A University of Munich Professor studying linguistics has conducted a study of these scientists. They were given a group of words to say before they left for their winter season in Antarctica, and were told to record themselves saying those same words four more times in the months that they were there.
The professor found that over time they began to sound more alike, that is, their accents began to conform into a collective, new accent. The professor also suggested that this same behavior could happen to those astronauts on mars expeditions.
*I summarized a few key points from this article, but if you want to learn more the source is below.
Source:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/linguists-hear-an-accent-begin/
3 people like this
3 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
13 Dec 19
I did wonder if there was one accent in that group that became the basis for the newly developed accent. Or if there were a majority 'accent' that heavily influenced the newly formed accent.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502173)
• Italy
14 Dec 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum Surely there was someone who influenced the others.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
13 Dec 19
I like cold, but definitely not frigidly cold!
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@dfollin (27267)
• United States
13 Dec 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum I don't like cold, unless it's an ice cube in my drink! LOL
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
13 Dec 19
@dfollin My problem is that I get too hot. Even in the cold of winter, I have had to have a fan on to keep me cool. So I know I couldn't handle frigid temps, but I am okay with temps being in the 20, 30'S and 40'S
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
13 Dec 19
I am assuming that those scientists living inside the lab dome have been there for many years.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
13 Dec 19
I can't be sure, I would need to do more research... However, I think that they are there for a season and are then able to go home for several months until they are required again.
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
13 Dec 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum I assumed the long period because of the effect on their speech.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
13 Dec 19
@Alexandoy They are atleast together for the winter months, which I guess would be long enough for them to start speaking with an accent unique to their compound / area they live.
1 person likes this
