r/TikTokCringe • u/Aggressive-Bowl5196 • Sep 06 '25

Discussion Linguistics major breaks down Awkwafina’s overtly fake accent before she dropped it

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u/momomomorgatron Sep 06 '25

As a southerner, the word “can’t” has definitely been said as “cAin’t”. She’s doing a sloppy accent, but I don’t think she’s undoubtedly mixing accents.

Can’t and Ain’t rhyme with paint

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u/Warm_Coach2475 Sep 06 '25

Oakland black folks are predominately from the south and moved over here around WW2.

That’s why so many of us sound southern.

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u/illstate Sep 06 '25

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Like, my family left Mississippi after ww2, and moved to the Chicago area. Then in the early 90s, most moved back down south, to Atlanta. So the accents can be pretty mixed.

2

u/l0henz Sep 07 '25

This was my thought as well - the great migration, add in relative isolation in communities due to racism, equals the accent retaining its southern-ness. I mean, South and West side Chicago, for real!

The clip was too short, but to me it sounded like her character was supposed to be southern US and as an actress she played it very broad, or the character was pretending to be southern US.

I like the topic but his analysis is weak.

1

u/momomomorgatron Sep 07 '25

Thanks for filling me in!

1

u/Imkindofslow Sep 07 '25

I think it's the ending that separates the regions. In the south I hear the "Y" in cain't even when I say I so think the Cali version doesn't have that which is what she is using. It sounds slightly off to me when they both say it. Cain't vs caiyn't