BOSTON – This city so full of history, culture, distinctive neighborhoods, champion sports teams and nationally ranked universities, breeds what is quite possibly one of the most notable regional accents in the nation, one that can be regarded as either a trademark or a curse, depending on perspective.
The speech inflections known as a Boston accent – most prominently the dropped Rs – can be picked up through meticulous training, often by actors for roles in films set in the city or the region, like "Gone Girl," "Goodwill Hunting" and "Black Mass." More often, training helps people erase the traces of their regional roots.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh will face challenges from Gov. Charlie Baker and House Speaker Robert DeLeo as he tries to defend his title this week as the Salvation Army's celebrity bell ringer champion.
The three elected officials will take over the charity's iconic red kettle in Downtown Crossing beginning Monday as part of a celebrity bell ringer series that has also featured Fox 25 anchors, reporters and meteorologists and New England Revolution mascot Slyde the Fox. Walsh was the top fundraiser in last year's effort, according to the Salvation Army.
