🚀 go-pugleaf

To: SOS-DATA

                        THE SOUTHERN FOCUS POLL

Based on telephone intereviews with 819 adults in 13 Southern
states, in March and April of 1992:

Among Southerners, the Southern accent is even more popular than
35 years ago, but many still believe it's a handicap.

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Do you like the Southern accent?

                                 Yes        No         DK         (N)
GALLUP POLL (1957)               68         14         18         (402)

SOUTHERN FOCUS POLL (1992)       82         11          7         (818)

John Shelton Reed, Director of the Institute for Research in Social
Science:
"The 1957 sample is pretty small, but it certainly looks as if there's been
a
change.  Of course, the South has changed, too.  Our economy has improved,
our
race relations are better -- it may be that what a Southern accent brings
to
mind these days is even more positive than it used to be, for Southerners,
anyway."

In 1992 the Southern accent was more popular among:
     whites (85%)
     those who identify themselves as Southerners (89%)
     life-long residents of the South (88%)
     residents of non-metropolitan counties (84%)
     those with high-school educations or less (87%)

There were no significant differences by age, sex, subregion (Deep South
vs.
peripheral South), or income.

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Do you agree or disagree with the following statement:  These days,
speaking
with a Southern accent is often a drawback.

     Agree                       30%
     Disagree                    59
     Depends (volunteered)        8
     Don't know, No Answer        2        (N = 818)


The accent was more likely to be seen as a drawback by
     nonwhites (40%)
     those who do not identify themselves as Southerners (38%)
     residents of metropolitan counties (34%)
     migrants to the South (36%)
     the college-educated (35%)
     women (33%)
     respondents under 45 years old (34%)

There were no significant differences by subregion (Deep South vs.
peripheral
South), or income.


For information about the Southern Focus Poll, call Dr. Beverly Wiggins at
(919) 966-2350.