Regarded as having General American accents in the earlier 20th century, but not by the middle of the 20th century, are the Mid-Atlantic United States, the Inland Northern United States, and Western Pennsylvania. However, many younger speakers within the Inland North seem to be moving back away from the Northern Cities Shift of front lax vowels that were rising.Dinkin, Aaron (2017). "Escaping the TRAP: Losing the Northern Cities Shift in Real Time (with Anja Thiel)". Talk presented at NWAV 46, Madison, Wisc., November 2017.Fruehwald, Josef (2013). "The Phonological Influence on Phonetic Change". Publicly Accessible University of Pennsylvania Dissertations. p. 48. Accents that have never been labeled "General American", even since the term's popularization in the 1930s, are the regional accents (especially the r-dropping ones) of Eastern New England, New York City, and the American South. In 1982, British phonetician John C. Wells wrote that two-thirds of the American population spoke with a General American accent.
regarded as having general american accents in the earlier 20th century but not by the middle of the 20th century are the mid-atlantic united states the inland northern united states and western pennsylvania however many younger speakers within the inland north seem to be moving back away from the northern cities shift of front lax vowels that were risingdinkin aaron (2017) "escaping the trap losing the northern cities shift in real time (with anja thiel)" talk presented at nwav 46 madison wisc november 2017fruehwald josef (2013) "the phonological influence on phonetic change" publicly accessible university of pennsylvania dissertations p 48 accents that have never been labeled "general american" even since the term's popularization in the 1930s are the regional accents (especially the r-dropping ones) of eastern new england new york city and the american south in 1982 british phonetician john c wells wrote that two-thirds of the american population spoke with a general american accent