billyellis wrote:As for the Southern accent...there is no way to say this without offending Southerners everywhere...but despite the fact that it has been shown to NOT be true, there is definitely a perception that the slow drawl is associated with lower intelligence/education. So I assume that unconsciously we like that accent because we think we have a better chance of talking those girls into bed.
Interesting thread. I've got a little wondering about your statement above, though. If I get you right, you state that a southern accent is proven to be no more attractive than any other accent and that it's only
perception making us think that a person with a southern accent is more attractive.
Now I ask myself the question:
isn't attractiveness solely and exclusively based on perception?
Of course there are objectifiable and measurable signs of beauty (like the distance between the eyes, symmetry of the face), but this doesn't take away that
beauty is, generally speaking, personal and only based on perception.
So, basically; how can you say a southern accent may be more attractive
by perception, but not by facts. I think perception of beauty
is in fact factual beauty.