That sounds pretty interesting. I do admit I am curious about Korea, Taiwan and mainland Japan so I am definately curious about that and I have to say that's a pretty interesting, whilst still logical, progression of what happens with ITTL Scandinavia.
Korea and Taiwan both have autonomy within japan. Imagine them as a sort of Scotland and Wales. One with a very strong independence movement, the other a weaker one.
As for the accent I think the ITTL 'default' American accent being the Trans-Atlantic accent is a pretty good idea. Especially with the royal family and how it seems the ITTL U.S. is deeply monarchist, it being the, or at least the major default dialect for the upper class like how RP is the default accent of Britian's Upper class, I think would make a lot of sense I feel. Perhaps there being something similar to the difference between RP and Estuary dialects, with how RP is mostly spoken by the upper classes as a 'regionless' dialect whilst Estuary is spoken by more common people whilst being influenced by RP. With here the Trans-Atlantic and Boston Brahmin and other such accents are the dialects and accents of the upper class with there being a more 'middle class' equivalent of Trans-Atlantic due to the influence of the ongoing Trans-Atlantic dialect/accent on general American English.
Doubtful. The Trans-Atlantic accent came into being due to American elites adopting British dialect features which were seen as more "fancy" due to Britain being the dominant world power, as well as it having a formal aristocracy. With Britain seemingly less powerful in this timeline, as well as America having its own aristocracy which I imagine includes lots of lords who fled to America after the British revolution, I doubt the Trans-Atlantic accent will even exist ittl.
I'll be the first to admit, my knowledge of accents is rather... limited, so I'll take what advice I can get on this issue! Britain, I would say, is still a rather powerful nation, so a version of the Trans-Atlantic dialect could still have sprung up, as something of a united language of the upper class. That being said, I do rather like the idea that Derekc2 laid here, so for the time being, we'll go with that until I can consult some colleague of mine on that issue.
Actually this is making me think of some theoretical stereotypes ITTL Americans have...I have the feeling stodgy conservative and aristocratic monarchists obsessed with relitigating the First British Civil War is going to be a common stereotype in the anglosphere outside of the ITTL UP and perhaps Realm Patagonia. Perhaps the british stereotype of stuffiness and politeness is more of an ITTL American thing as well as a bit of alt-historical irony.
I have a stereotypes map being worked on right now, that will answer that question more fully. But your right on the money really. For the most part, there is this idea that Americans are stuffy and polite, making use of strange run of sentences to defend their "Backward institution" whereas are Englishmen are forward-thinking, while only glancing at the past.
The stereotype of the American ready to refight the first civil war is common though and wasn't helped when it was leaked at the Queen allegedly said to the American ambassador that she couldn't wait for "Our Homeland to return to the fold" after it was mentioned to her than an open loyalist had won a seat in Parliament for the first time 50 years.
Whereas since from what I understand pre-French Revolution the British/English actually had a reputation for liberal radicals difficult to control I wonder if ITTL Britian, priding itself on being the 'Model Republic' has a stereotype/reputation being liberal/radical in general unlike OTL due to for how long they were the only real republic and the influence from that (even though it was an aristocratic republic). Also perhaps the stereotype of being in general rude, vitroalic and confrontation being a more ITTL British stereotype with how intense Soccer hooligans in Britian are IOTL...Also I hope the ITTL default British accent in the present is something close to Cockney due to it's OTL "low status/class" reputation and it being more the language of the common population compared to the ITTL Americans having their default dialect/accent be considered more aristocratic in nature. Perhaps born from, if RP still was a thing for a long while ITTL Britian, a general backlash to the more aristocratic sounding RP and the creeping influence of Aristocratic America and it's bullheaded attempts to turn back the clock and bring back a union that no one outside of the UP and I presume Realm Patagonia is actually interested in.
For the most part, Britain will be seen as the home of radical liberalism well into the 20th century, and still clings to that as a core aspect of their national identity to the modern day. You'll often hear politicians making a point of the great history of British radicalism to win support. Now, is that strictly true? No, no it is not. But why let reality get in the way of a good story?
This is what I was thinking for the most part, that many American stereotypes are now British ones. Brits running amuck, and all that!
I do rather like the idea of the standard accent being cockney! Could be we see a more firm divide between the upper class and the general populace? And that the fact David Cameron speaks the way he does is a source of mockery toward him sounding like he should be "On the other side"
I wonder what is the fate of OTL's Leopold I of Belgium considering that Belgium doesn't exist here.
The Oldenburgs could still be around in the present. But I imagine that they aren't the reigning house of Denmark anymore as the Glucksburgs would be the current Danish royal house.
Two ideas:
- All of the Hesse and Nassau monarchies around in 1757 can survive to the present.
- A branch of the House of Liechtenstein can immigrate to Alaska in the United Provinces, with their descendants becoming of the province's nobility.
I did have a rather funny idea for that. He goes into business, and in time his son succeeds him as head of the company. Which in time morphs into the Congo Company. What this place!
The Oldenberg idea is an interesting one! What do you think about it?
1 - Hmm, maybe, though it does further complicate matters when planning family tries
2 - That is a rather fun idea! One branch the reigning house of a small country, the other massive lang holders in Alaska.