Sha! Is Louisiana losing its love for Cajun accents?

An online survey finds that people love the traditional Cajun accent, would hate to see it disappear, but find it to be a relic of the past.
That’s the word from The Word Finder, an online research tool, which conducted a survey on 3,042 people on matters related to accents and slang.
Cajun and Creole English variants carry layers of French, African, Caribbean and Native American influence and they are among the most storied American dialects.
But respondents say the most distinctive features (“making groceries,” “passing a good time”) now feel tied to older generations. Younger Louisianans often speak a more standardized Gulf South English, especially outside Acadiana.
Still, there’s pride in the sound: people described it as “part of who we are,” even if they use it sparingly.
Louisiana ranked third among the regional accents people say they’re using less, and second among the accents people would be saddest to lose.
Do parents want their kids to keep the local sound?
Here’s where the generational tension really shows. Most people — about 70% — say they would prefer their children speak general American, while only 30% want their kids to inherit the local accent.
Yet when the same group was asked whether the government should fund dialect-preservation efforts, 56% said yes.
“Accents are one of the last truly local things we carry with us, but they are also the first to be trimmed when people want to blend in,” said Praveen Latchamsetty, founder of  The Word Finder.
“What this survey shows is that Americans still feel deeply attached to their regional voices, even as many quietly set them aside in everyday life. The tension between pride and practicality is reshaping the sound of the country.”
Here are the rankings of accents people say they’re using less:
No. 1 Appalachian
Once defined by musical vowels and the storytelling rhythms of mountain culture, Appalachian English is one of America’s most recognizable dialects, yet younger speakers increasingly code-switch to avoid stereotypes. Many say the sound is still beloved, just used more selectively.
No. 2 Southern
The South’s trademark drawl remains iconic, but respondents admit they dial it down in professional settings or when travelling. It’s less disappearance than self-editing, but the effect is the same: fewer “fixin’ to” and “y’all” moments day-to-day.
No. 3 Louisiana
No. 4 Pacific Southwest (SoCal)
The laid-back “totally,” “hella,” and drawn-out vowels of Southern California aren’t disappearing — but respondents say they avoid the most stereotypical elements because they feel “too teenage” or “too 2000s.” The vibe is still there, just toned down.
No. 5 Hudson Valley
A surprisingly nostalgic entry. The old Dutch-influenced patterns of the Hudson Valley once shaped early American English. Today, suburbanization and New York spillover mean the accent is fading into a softer, more neutral register.
No. 6 Mid-Atlantic
Historically associated with Maryland, Delaware, southern New Jersey, and the old radio-era “mid-Atlantic” stage accent, this hybrid sound is now rarely heard in its full form. Respondents say it feels like a “grandparent accent.”
No. 7 Boston Urban
The dropped R’s are iconic, but even in Boston, younger people aren’t adopting the sound as strongly. Many admit they “still have it,” but only when emotional or joking.
No. 8 Baltimore
The distinctive “Bawlmer” accent is beloved, but locals increasingly soften the rounded vowels and clipped rhythms in favor of something more neutral. The identity remains strong, even if the sound shifts.
No. 9 Rocky
Mountain
A quieter presence on the national stage, this accent blends Western flatness with local quirks from Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Wyoming. Migration has diluted it.
No. 10 New
Mexican English
Influenced by centuries of Spanish-English contact, this dialect remains culturally rich. But respondents say they hear fewer of its hallmark cadences among younger residents, who tend to speak in a more standard Western style.

When it comes to slang, most people aren’t consciously “abandoning” their local phrases - but they do admit easing off certain expressions:
—64% say they have deliberately stopped using a slang phrase because it felt outdated.
—36% kept certain phrases out of the workplace because they “sound unprofessional.”
—19% say people “don’t understand” their local phrases outside their home region.
—5% dropped slang after moving states.
—39% say a phrase simply feels “old-fashioned now.”
And despite all that, 74% believe regional accents should be preserved.
A separate ranking asked which dialects Americans feel the most emotional attachment to:
—No. 1 Southern
—No. 2 Louisiana
--No. 3 New England
—No. 4 New York City
—No. 5 Philadelphia English
—No. 6 Boston Urban
—No. 7Midwestern
—No. 8 Appalachian
—No. 9 Pacific Southwest
—No. 10 Southern Appalachian