The apparent inability of some white Americans to pronounce non-Anglo-Saxon names correctly. In particular, the clearly deliberate mispronunciation or dispronunciation of such names by a member of the white elite as a way of implying social superiority and deprecating non-white origins. This form of speech suggests a link between the speaker and the original 102
Mayflower settlers, whose names are typical of common early
17th century English names.
Another term for the same syndrome is 'Hamptons lockjaw'. The Hamptons in Long Island are a popular vacationing spot for the wealthy, with some of the highest real estate values in the USA. This term is likely to be a variant on 'Locust Valley lockjaw', or 'Larchmont lockjaw', which make similar geographical references. All are synonyms for the
Mid-Atlantic Accent, a mixture of American and British speech habits which was deliberately adopted from the early 20th century by members of the
social elite in certain of the original Northeastern colonies - for example, the Boston Brahmins - as a mark of difference and superiority. It was, and is considered unnatural by many because of its exaggerated articulation, involving much clenching of the jaw.
That guy's got a
real bad case of Mayflower mouth - he just won't say 'Kamala' right, even after he's
heard it. It's insulting.
