Sarah Palin's accent explained

Posted September 18, 2008 7:30 AM

by Jason George

Have you noticed Gov. Sarah Palin's accent?

If so, you're not alone. Ever since U.S. Sen. John McCain added the Alaska governor to the Republican presidential ticket, Palin's speech pattern and pronunciation have prompted Web and water-cooler conversations.

Some keyboard critics enjoy the sound of Palin's voice; many don't. Fans and foes alike describe it with colorful phrases, such as "a little Minnesota, a little Valley Girl," "an interesting mix of Minnesota, and Mississippi" and "bush-like," as in Native American accents heard in Alaska's bush or remote areas. Many commentators wonder if Palin's voice reflects a true "Alaskan accent."

It does--at least it's one Alaskan accent, said William Labov, a University of Pennsylvania linguistics professor and co-author of the "Atlas of North American English."

"She's a good example of the Northern speech with a Western influence," he added, pointing to several examples, such as Palin's dropping of "g's" from word endings and pronunciation of "terrorist" as two syllables instead of three.

Also, "that 'O' sound is a character in the 'Fargo'-like speech influenced by the German and Scandinavians," he added.

Of course, Alaska's isolation and its large population of transplants from the lower 48 mean that there's not just one state accent. Palin herself was born in Idaho before moving to Alaska as a young child. Except for her infancy, and college stints in Hawaii and Idaho, Palin has lived her whole life in the nation's 49th State.

Not all Alaskans agree that Palin's accent is their own. However, the Anchorage Daily News, Alaska's largest newspaper, chided comedian Robin Williams last week for "apparently [not recognizing] an Alaska accent," as he described Palin as "Tina Fey meets 'Fargo.' "

Fey's take on Palin, during last week's episode of "Saturday Night Live," was brilliant, said Judi Dickerson, a Hollywood dialogue and dialect coach who has worked with numerous A-list actors, including Russell Crowe for the film "Mystery, Alaska."

"It's really making it flat and nasal," she said. "Even to the little mouth purse of self-satisfaction, it was perfect."

Dickerson added that Palin's voice also attracts a listener's ear because it sounds untrained.

"It's difficult for women in a man's world to find a command with their voice without getting labeled as sounding too masculine," she said. "I would help her find the bottom half of her voice."

Palin herself hasn't commented on such assessments directly, but she has admitted--even played up the fact--that her familiarity with speaking on the national stage is limited. Archive clips from the 1980s, when Palin worked as an Anchorage television sports reporter, reveal a voice very much like the one she employs today in her campaigning for the vice presidency.

Through a spokeswoman, Palin did offer her thoughts on Fey's Saturday night impersonation, according to weekend wire reports.

"She thought it was quite funny," said Tracey Schmitt, "particularly because she once dressed up as Tina Fey for Halloween."

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