Do You Speak American?

I just watched the PBS special "Do You Speak American?" hosted by Jim McNeil of News Hour fame. One of the many fascinating points was that our language is becoming more localized rather than less localized. I thought for sure in the age of television and instant communication that our language would become more homogeneous. It has not. In fact, African-American speech has started down the pathe to becoming a separate true language (according to the findings of the guests on the show). The flat Midwestern accent has become "high American" in the sense that it is the common English we can all use to communicate.

I had an easier time understanding some foreigners speaking English than I have understanding some Americans speaking English- and this was in New England, mind you. Listen to a Texan and a Mainer and tell me they are speaking the same language!