The Reviled Tongue: New York English

 

You Talkin' To Me?: The Unruly History of New York English by E.J. White tells the very informative and entertaining tale of how New York English developed.  White explains that with its non-rhotic characteristics (relating to or denoting a dialect of English in which r is pronounced in prevocalic position only, common in eastern New England, New York City, and Britain) New York English went from the prestige American accent, to one of the most reviled, even by New Yorkers themselves.  Confession: I spent years eliminating my metro New York accent.

As this is an American story, the ‘downfall’ of the accent involves class, race, and the marginalization of immigrants, with a heavy does of Antisemitism.  White has written an important book that should be widely read.