What is Appalachian Language Anyway?

A very interesting and informative essay on one woman's experinces being discriminated against because of her linguistic heritage. I'll give you a taste, click on the link to get a full serving.

What is Appalachian Language Anyway?: "What is Appalachian Language Anyway?

An essay on Multiculturalism and Tolerance

by author Sandra Mitchell-Quinn

Copyright 2001-2005 All Rights Reserved

When I first moved to Cleveland in 1980, from Athens County, Ohio, I was considered to have a speech impediment to everyone I met. The first thing people would say is 'Where do you come from?' When I would tell them Ohio, they would look at me puzzled and then write me off as one of those southern hillbillies of Appalachia.

The first time I ever realized I had this so called 'problem' was when I was selected at age 15 to be in the Miss Teen-Ager Ohio beauty pageant which was held at Capital University in Columbus. An important part of the program was each girl announcing their name and place of birth. The girl who went on to win the pageant, said to me frankly, I would never win the pageant since I could not even say Ohio correctly. She went on to say that any girl representing Ohio must be a perfect example of a polished Ohio-an. This devastated me and I couldn't understand what she was talking about.

"

Comments

tm said…
It's just like ebonics: yeah, it's a different variant of english, but if one wants to do well, one ought to learn the Queen's english.
9:53 PM
pruittcommunications said…
Well, I have struggled to break myself of English pronounciation and arcane word usage that I aquired as a child. It's tough. I still find I put my sentences together in ways that others never would. I do not think it is like ebonics. Perhaps you can correct me if I'm wrong but ebonics was a gimmick used by some school systems to tap into federal money for language instruction. The said that African American's spoke a different langauge. While everyone joked about the approach and idea, I think it did more harm than good. When you face discrimination because of your language, it hurts.
10:35 PM
tm said…
It wasn't a gimmick; it was a novel pedagogical approach. By recognizing black english as a distinct dialect, the idea was that class could be taught in it, which would make learning easier for the kids. Probably misguided, since the kids just do need to learn Queen's english, but not as insane as the media wanted it to be (there was some decent evidence that it was a distinct dialectic, with its own linguisitic structure and wordstock).

Being from Ohio, though, the article was amusing for its delineation of all our fine and elegant Ohioan accents. Good stuff.
11:58 PM
pruittcommunications said…
Upon reading your answer I went to the Wikipedia article on Ebonics. It fully supports what you have said.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebonics

Personally, I find the variation in English dialects refreshing to listen to. I took my vacation last summer to Tangier Island just to listen to their local dialect. The Island was featured on a PBS series years ago, The Story Of English. Satillite TV and more contact with the outside world has sort of brought their linguistic characteristic toward the mainstream American English speech, but it still has remnants of Cornwall English from the 1600's. I don't known what kind of connections the Tangier dialect has with Cornish which was a Celtic language that died out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_language

My dialect was the Ozark dialect. When I'm around my relatives in Missouri is comes back quickly.
7:55 AM
Unknown said…
Terry, thank you for publishing the link to my Appalachian language essay. I am about ten years out from the time of writing it for my website for Athens county, Ohio and I have received so many wonderful responses and ideas of others.

I received one email from a professor in Indiana that I want to share the jest of with you. He said he was attending a conference at the Language Institute in Belgium and he found a copy of my essay lying in their library on the table.

I have to tell you, that my essay presenting the idea of language assimilation dialects due to migrations of diverse nationalities of people to isolated areas, now being talked about around the world, has made me feel quite proud.

I just returned from a trip to Europe, what a hoot that was. I think I came back with some new realizations about the English to American translations.

I believe that America so wanted to be completely unidentified as English, doing everything as opposite of the English as possible in language and actions.

Of course you know of driving on opposite sides of the car to driving on opposite sides of the roadway and even walking is opposite. I was in the airport on a conveyor, their forward moving conveyors are on the left, ours on the right.

I noticed so many such things. Over in London, Potato Chips were called cookies, Cookies were called crackers, and there was this thing called mushy which was blended peas. Waitresses don't come to you to place a food order, you go to them and order and pay first. Then they deliver your food to you. We sat for an hour in the Pub before we figured that one out, lol!

Anyways, it is so good that everyone is talking about this idea and that new understandings are occurring.

Thanks again!

Sandra Mitchell Quinn
ohgen.net/ohathens
Appalachian Language Essay and Reviews
10:14 AM
pruittcommunications said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
11:33 PM
pruittcommunications said…
Sandra

I'm glad that people are discussing the ideas about language. Best wishes as you pursue your study and writing.

Terry
11:35 PM
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