<p class="ql-block">Have you noticed that most Hollywood golden age actors have a strange and dignified tone, with a strong retro sentiment when they speak?</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">This "sentiment" actually comes from an old era accent.</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">It is called a "transatlantic accent" or "mid Atlantic accent", which is a mixture of Standard American and British RP in pronunciation and is usually acquired later; This artificial accent was prevalent in the upper echelons of American society and performance in the early 20th century, but declined after World War II and is now only used by a few actors for specific roles.</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">From its leap into upper class Mandarin and occupation of the mainstream performance circle to its gradual disappearance decades later, people may be able to glimpse some changes in American social values and discourse power. The transatlantic accent has been closely linked to the New England region of the United States since its inception. As early as the late 19th and early 20th centuries, upper class individuals in Boston and surrounding areas of New England had developed a highly recognizable elite accent. Or related to the pro English tradition in the region, this accent imitates British RP in pronunciation and has a tone that is close to the elegance and artificiality of the English accent. Some people use "lockjaw" to refer to this accent, mocking the speaker's unnatural jaw movement in order to achieve clear pronunciation. This Boston upper level accent is basically equivalent to the transatlantic accent defined today, where "transatlantic/mid Atlantic" means that the accent blends the English and American pronunciation characteristics of both sides of the Atlantic.</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">After the transatlantic accent, it became an international standard accent and was widely taught in senior private schools in New England. A genuine transatlantic accent has become a hallmark of well-educated upper class individuals.</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">Many historical figures with relevant educational backgrounds carry this accent, such as former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who attended a private preparatory school in Massachusetts and delivered many speeches with obvious "transatlantic" traces after entering politics. Shortly after the formation of the transatlantic accent, it entered the theater industry, and this clear and melodious pronunciation is considered the best choice for performing "classical and elegant plays". Performance schools have begun to intend to teach students this accent, and transatlantic accents have become a standard feature for actors with a formal background.</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">In 1927, Hollywood ushered in the voice film revolution, which was also favored by Californians and became the mainstream voice on the screen.</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">It is not difficult to understand why Hollywood prefers this peculiar tone. In addition to the advantages of clear pronunciation, a semi English and semi American artificial accent can weaken the regional characteristics of the character, making the film appear slightly higher than reality and enhancing the "dream making" effect of the film. At the same time, the actors have replaced local dialects or accents with a unified approach, ensuring the universality of the work without losing audiences due to dialect barriers or biases. The transatlantic accent also catered to the trend of Hollywood shooting a large number of American high society themed films at that time.</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">So in the following years, the audience listened to various celebrities falling in love, arguing, and revealing secrets on the screen in a unique and elegant tone... The actors most commonly associated with transatlantic accents were Catherine Hepburn, Gary Grant, Betty Davis, William Powell, Grace Kelly... transatlantic accents were also widely used on radio stations. Duke University professor Jay O'Berski proposed that this accent, which sounds more solid and sharp, partially compensates for the technical shortcomings of early radio stations that made it extremely difficult to record bass.</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">It is said that transatlantic accents are also practiced in British and American commercial trade. Merchants from both countries learn it as a standard language to avoid obstacles or misunderstandings caused by different accents.</p><p class="ql-block"><br></p><p class="ql-block">Do you think so? Alasto.</p>