As an AuDHD person with Echolalalalalalalalalia 🙃, I find that my accent/idiolect has changed as I’ve aged and been exposed to different accents of all types in the U.S… I just kinda pick up certain things I like.
For example I like:
- The British pronunciation/spelling of Aluminium and Banana
- The Irish pronunciation of three (my grandfather who was not at all born in Ireland also used it though)
- Upper Midwest sayings and phrases - Ope!, Oh ya sure!
- Extended "Wwweeeelp"s
- I bounce ALL around my register in speaking sometimes. I’ve sometimes been described as sing-songy.
But also dislike certain aspects of things and seek to avoid them at all costs…
- Cot/Caught, Pen/Pin - NO MERGERS! Ever. They must be different sounds.
- Glottal Stops in place of consonants are a no go - pronounce the whole thing dang it!
There’s a whole lot more of course, but I need to finish this post so I can go be an unregulated mess after a long (and particularly annoying) day of work.
So what about y’all? I’m super curious to know!
I am an aspi, English is my second language, and it has been my primary language for 5 years. Learned it mainly through music, games and cinema. Spoke to Americans, English people, Australians, French, Scottish - all sorts of folks. Most people get surprised when they learn where I’m from, because my accent is a “well-spoken mix of Australian and eastern-european”.
I also find it fun to pick up and collect fun mannerisms, utterances and such. I am fascinated by Jewish-american jargon, I admire (but never paly with) AAE, and here in Europe it’s easier to mix and match things across cultures.
I also have to disagree with you on glottal stops - I adore them and often find them uniquely expressive, but I respect your right to your own tastes.