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To this day, both Southern and British speakers use the word “reckon” frequently.

I have noticed that. *Reckon* is also used by the other Commonwealth peoples, such as Aussies, Kiwis and South Africans.

When I watch British TV shows, however, I usually have to put on the captions in order to get every word, especially if there are Scots or Northern accents. Hearing and seeing at the same time has helped me to be able to understand more easily without the captions. The last time we traveled to Australia and NZ, it was much easier to understand everyone.

I wonder if the difference, over 25 years, was the prevalence of American media in those countries. Perhaps the Anglo-sphere is tending towards a more common pronunciation?

I have lived in the central & northern US all my life and there was a difference from central Illinois to Wisconsin that I noticed when I moved north forty years ago. Today, I can only sometimes pinpoint the differences, such as *pin* for pen in people from the more southern of the central plains.

I think American regional accents are gradually trending more toward a common *American* accent. Since I like the southern and the tidewater accents, I think this is sort of sad.

I have lived in the central & northern US all my life and there was a difference from central Illinois to Wisconsin that I noticed when I moved north forty years ago. Today, I can only sometimes pinpoint the differences, such as *pin* for pen in people from the more southern of the central plains.

I think American regional accents are gradually trending more toward a common *American* accent. Since I like the southern and the tidewater accents, I think this is sort of sad.

I remember traveling from Illinois to Wisconsin in 1977 and as soon as I crossed the state line the accent changed.

I used to spend a lot of time in east Texas when I was younger and all of the broadcasters on TV and radio had a heavy Southern accent. After an absense of a few years, I returned last year and was suprised to hear almost all the broadcasters using what you call an "American" and I would call Mid-Western accent which is becoming the universal accent of broadcasting.

Since I like the southern and the tidewater accents, I think this is sort of sad.

Southern and Tidewater accents are easier on both the tongue and the ear, IMHO.

Since my maternal Grandmother was of Southron heritage, letting my clipped Yankee-speak slip into a nice drawl feels like putting on a comforatble old pair of boots.