A unique New York accent often evokes reactions, like Joe Pesci’s memorable line from “Goodfellas,” and Fran Drescher’s iconic voice from “The Nanny,” which many find somewhat grating. In fact, nearly 60% of Americans reportedly see this accent as a nuisance, according to new research from Podcastle, an AI voice platform.
Interestingly, it’s not just those outside New York who feel this way. A significant 45% of New Yorkers themselves admit that they might find their own accent a bit irritating.
“How we communicate and how others perceive us can influence trust and emotional connections,” Podcastle noted. “This study highlights the significance of accents—not only in casual talks but also in the content that people engage with.”
Just 10% of Americans claim they trust individuals with a New York accent. In contrast, a Southern drawl is perceived differently; those who speak with a Southern accent are considered 256% more trustworthy and 232% more attractive than their New York counterparts.
Michael Newman, a linguistics professor at Queen’s College, observed that while the traditional NYC accent is evolving, it isn’t going away just yet. “Certain elements of New York English are fading; for instance, the dropping of the ‘R’ sound is common,” he said. “So instead of saying ‘caw’ and ‘baw,’ people now say ‘car’ and ‘bar.’”
Moreover, previous research from Guide2Fluency indicates that New York accents can even pose challenges for AI systems. According to their findings, voice assistants like Siri and Alexa struggle with the distinct pronunciations typical of New Yorkers, making them among the toughest for these systems to understand.
Despite the challenges, some still hold the New York accent dear, viewing it as an integral part of their identity. “None of us as New Yorkers wants to sound like we’re from somewhere else,” Newman said, reflecting a certain pride in their unique way of speaking.
