Locust Valley lockjaw

Locust Valley lockjaw is the colloquial term for a stereotypical upper class American accent associated with elite residents of the New York metropolitan area, particularly those on the North Shore of Long Island. The accent takes its name from the hamlet of Locust Valley, whose exclusive country clubs have included speakers of the accent. The accent is typically non-rhotic and involves speaking while keeping the lips tight and jaw clenched and thrust forward. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DEFD91738F93BA25752C0A961948260&sec=&spon=d=all&pagewanted=all "On Language", by William Safire, "The New York Times", January 18, 1987] ]

Individuals who have been described as affecting a recognizable Lockjaw accent include U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, actress Katharine Hepburn, conservative commentator William F. Buckley Jr., Jane Hathaway, the secretarial character on The Beverly Hillbillies, Thurston Howell III, the millionaire character on the television series Gilligan's Island, and Matthew Larkin Widham.

References

ee also

Boston Brahmin accent

External links

* [http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=1060 Locust Valley, Long Island]