Appalachian Studies: Dialect
English 2000: Topic in Literature and Culture - Appalachian Dialect
English 2000 is a variable topics course that may cover a variety of topics within literature or culture. When the topic is Appalachian dialects, we look at language in the Appalachian region and how it varies both from the dialects spoken in other parts of the US and within the region itself. We examine how language is affected by place, age, membership in various social groups, and education, and how and when it's used in literary works. We learn a bit about linguistics, the study of languages, to help us have our conversations, but this is not a linguistics course. Instead, it's an exploration of culture and speech patterns with a very brief introduction to the scientific study of language.
Background
- Mountain TalkThis PBS and Documentary Channel favorite portrays the variety of language and culture of Southern Appalachia.
- Celebrating AppalachiaYouTube channel of Tipper Presley and family, who live in western North Carolina. Many speech samples, some episodes discussing dialect.
- Appalachian English at U of South CarolinaTons of resources, scholarly and academically sound general interest, page started and originally maintained by Dr. Michal Montgomery.
- Dialect definitionThis is a short introduction to the linguistic concept of dialects, written for non-specialists.
Dialect and place
- IDEA recordings from US statesRecordings and transcriptions of speakers identified by their locations. Check locations; many are in non-Appalachian parts of Appalachian states.
Dialect and Group Membership
- Langston Heritage Group collection at Archives of AppalachaiDigitized collection documenting the history of African-Americans in Johnson City and Washington County, Tennessee. Includes some interviews.
Research resources
Dialect in literature
- A Claiming of Kin: A Linguistic Analysis of Southern Appalachian English in Melissa Range's Scriptorium: PoemsUndergraduate thesis analyzing dialect use in poetry