Older Southern American English

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Older Southern American English is a diverse set of English dialects of the Southern United States spoken most widely during the mid-19th century, gradually transforming among its White speakers—possibly first due to economy-driven migrations following the American Civil War—up until the mid-20th century. By then, these local dialects had largely consolidated into, or been replaced by, a more regionally unified Southern American English. Meanwhile, among Black Southerners, these dialects transformed into a fairly stable African-American Vernacular English, now spoken nationwide among Black people. Certain features unique to older Southern U.S. English persist today, like non-rhoticity, though typically only among Black speakers or among very localized White speakers.

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