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A new phenomenon, courtesy of the television, has been making the rounds on Twitter: some children who watch Peppa Pig are starting to talk with a distinctly non-American accent.
Dubbed "Peppa Pig Syndrome" or "The Peppa Effect," many American and Canadian parents have noticed their little ones starting to use words they definitely haven't picked up from them. Some parents just report vocabulary differences, such as "torch" instead of "flashlight," while others have noticed a difference in the way their children pronounce words.
Not all of the characters from the show speak with the same accent, so it seems to be up to chance which one kids will pick up on.
Has your kid suddenly developed a British accent like this cute girl from the Charlotte-area? Well, it might be d… https://t.co/DqzvrtWpSU— NBC Charlotte (@NBC Charlotte) 1550067949.0
Is watching Peppa Pig making US children talk with British accents? This is Oliver Smalley, a three-year-old boy,… https://t.co/C9AMy71Knh— ITV News (@ITV News) 1549993158.0
There are quite a few parents reporting their children adopting a new accent and vocabulary.
Yeah I can vouch for the #PeppaEffect in our house. Tayla absolutely lapses into a slight Brit accent and vocabular… https://t.co/9Jvdmb3z8t— Eddie Painter (@Eddie Painter) 1549942803.0
On a side note, the #peppaeffect is real in this household. Today my daughter asked to go on Holiday to Paris but s… https://t.co/kx9HMR8Wx9— Minnie and Mouse Ears (@Minnie and Mouse Ears) 1550158863.0
I just read an article about American Parents saying that their children are developing a British accent because th… https://t.co/ilFDgL3Bip— Chantae (@Chantae) 1550096672.0
Apparently the accent isn't the only thing kids are picking up from Peppa.
Comic book writer and film director Greg Pak pointed out that Peppa Pig is only the first in a long list of excellent British media children are likely to encounter and mimic.
Why Americans will never stop saying "gutted" : Peppa Pig --> Harry Potter --> Ewan McGregor as Obi Wan --> LoTR --> Doctor Who— Greg Pak (@Greg Pak) 1550118656.0
Not everyone thinks this is a bad thing.
apparently little kids from the usa have 'peppa pig syndrome' where they talk with british accents that they picked… https://t.co/TGIBRuCLpd— Rose Haslbauer (@Rose Haslbauer) 1550104868.0
@AmyMantravadi @holland_tom Our civilising influence continues.— David Banks (@David Banks) 1550102218.0
Exciting news: Peppa Pig is teaching American children to speak the Queen's English. https://t.co/vdkDLJHI20— Tom Holland (@Tom Holland) 1550042335.0
British parents pointed out that American and Australian television and movies have the opposite effect on their children.
@itvnews Disney Channel and Nickelodeon give our kids American accents, so they really shouldn't object.— Jack Sharpe (@Jack Sharpe) 1549993220.0
@holland_tom @afneil Good as I am like fed up with like our kids kinda like speak like Americans.— Ian Kendrick (@Ian Kendrick) 1550096223.0
@holland_tom Dear America, your films have been spreading your accent everywhere since the ‘30s. Welcome to the world.— John Wood (@John Wood) 1550042661.0
@itvnews Well there was a whole generation here that spoke with an Australian Neighbours lilt. 😂— SJJ (@SJJ) 1549995652.0
@itvnews Payback for all the times we have to listen to our kids doing annoying Disney accents— Christine Shapley (@Christine Shapley) 1549996083.0
Toddlers and pre-schoolers are still actively developing their language skills, so it makes sense that they would be easily influenced by accents they hear regularly. Nobody expected it to be this adorable though!