ENGL300-1: Jacob Collins
ENGL300-2: Chris Zoeller
Due by class time on: Wednesday, Oct. 5th, 2011
The responses by the whole class are due by class time on: Fri., Oct. 7th, 2011
The text you need to read is here.
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The article entitled “Dialect Boundaries” seems to tackle both different accents as well as different slang between certain area's. To gather data, they tested people in Ohio which has the most dialectical difference do to its location. They did this by first having surveyors draw a map of where they thought the boundary lines existed and then to judge the strength of the differences had them fill out a survey about speakers in those areas that went as such: 1, exactly like you; 2, a little different; 3, somewhat
different; and 4, different.
The surveyors from the south rarely agreed on their map most responders agreed that their were two different dialect differences, which was north of Columbus and south of it. Those from southeast central felt like most of Ohio spoke the same while the far corners of the state had different dialects. Those from the central divided it up by saying the far north had a Chicago type accent, while those in the middle was more “normal” and average, and the southern part having a southern twang to it. One northwestern Ohio citizen mapped the northeast part of the state as “good plain English,” the northwest part “slight dutch” and the southern part “strong hillbilly; fast.”
The findings then are that folk perceptions can be drawn from a small geographical region, that people from different parts of the states answered differently, and perceptual dialectology and traditional dialectology can yield similar results. This disagrees with earlier studies that basically just split the state in half but it also shows that the results are only relative to those answering the questions, in my opinion.
I think it would be interesting to do the same study for the state of Illinois. I am literally from the most southern part of the State and feel like a have a “normal” accent and feel that anyone north of approximately St. Louis has a “northern” accent, but basically every person I talk to tell me that I have a strong southern accent and obviously feel like they have a normal one, while I think that they have a very, very strong northern accent. I find it very interesting the differences in perception from just one single state.
--Jacob Collins
I have lived in two different states throughout my life. When I was little I was born in North Aurora, Illinois. Growing up in the North, I had what the article calls a "Northern Accent." When I moved to Ohio, my accent was different compared to those living in Dayton. As I grew up however, my accent changed, having more of an Ohio accent. Then I moved back to Illinois, to Geneva.
ReplyDeleteNot only have I lived in two different states with two different accents, but I have spent every summer in North Carolina. My accent I would assume is different from many others strictly because of the places I have spent my life in. I think this article was interesting because when I first moved to SIUC, my floormates were discussing how different our accents were. The only difference between other 'Northerners' and me were that I had a bit of a southern twist in my speaking.
I think partaking in this study in Illinois would have resulted in the same findings. Everyone thinks their accent is 'normal' compared to others because that is all they have heard all their lives.
It is strange how many different accents can be found in the same region. Although I've thought about this kind of diversity before, I've never heard of anyone doing an experiment like this to record the differences. This article is very impressive with all of its "dialectical" maps and list of factors brought into consideration. Speech patterns seem like they would be a very difficult thing to assess, because there are so many influencing factors. I notice a difference in the way I speak now as compared to the way I spoke before college. The people I am around now (university students and professors) have greatly influenced my speech for the better.
ReplyDeleteI found this study to be very interesting. Based on the state of Illinois, I think there is definitely a difference in dialects between the northern and southern regions. Last year I was at a community college and when my friends came home to visit from their universities, I could notice a difference in their speech patterns because they had a Chicago accent. I think it just depends on the people you are around and the environment that you are in. Though we each think we speak "normal" everyone has a different perception of what normal is.
ReplyDeleteDialects are such an interesting concept to think about. Normally we think of accents, and those pertaining to people of different countries or regional areas, but there are definitely a range of dialects here in Southern Illinois. I have lived here all of my life and never thought I had a "Southern Accent" especially compared to those who live even further south, but when I went away to school last year (in Saint Louis) I had a roommate from Chicago and one from MN; both thought I had a Southern accent, and I always told them they had extremely Northern accents. There were a lot of times when we would say something and the other would respond with, "what?" Dialects are definitely present, even here like Jacob mentioned. He only lives an 1 1/2 or so South of where I grew up and to me his accent is a lot stronger than mine.
ReplyDeleteI am fascinated with the idea of Dialects. The idea that there are different dialectics in different regions of the country is very evident with different region in the state. Ohio has different accents such as southern accents, Chicago accents, slight dutch, proper standard English and hillbilly. I went to visit family in Arkansas and I noticed their southern accent and dialects. I glad I read this article.
ReplyDeleteI am from Massac County, Illinois; it is only 50 miles south from Carbondale. Yet to people that are from here or farther north that got to school here, I have a "southern" accent. Yes, my hometown borders Kentucky, and yes it is a small farming county, but I still live in the same state with people that think I am from the deepest parts of Alabama. I would find it interesting if our state was surveyed, because it is very different in just 50 miles.
ReplyDeleteThis article was focused on dialects and the diversity Ohio has in it's borders. Illinois is also mentioned, and from my experience, even Southern Illinois alone has a wide variety of different dialects and accents. I am from Springfield, Illinois and I've been told I don't have an accent at all. However, one of my friends here at Southern is from northern MN while another is from Cambria. The difference between them is evident and interesting. We definitely have a variety of dialects at SIUC alone. This article was very interesting.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very fascinating article about the perceptions and actualities of dialects. Using Ohio as the place of research, researchers gathered data to question subjects about the difference of dialect based on geographical location. The subjects gave mixed responses about the dialectical differences that they perceived. I certainly was not prepared for some of the southern dialects that I heard upon arriving in southern Illinois a year ago from the north side of Chicago. I am surprised and delighted to hear different speech patterns that I'm not otherwise used to.
ReplyDeleteEvery summer I attend a convention that attracts people from around the world. There are people representing Germany, Australia, Ireland, etc. as well as almost every state in the United States, and no one ever has the same accent. The international people have such heavy accents that it hinders our ability to understand what they are saying. I always forget that even in Illinois our regions are uniquely relative to different accents. My old roommate was from Chicago and our speaking sounded completely different. I also have a friend from New York with an extremely thick Bronx accent. Every time she talks to me she comments on my southern accent, which I believe is non-existent and that my voice is “normal.” She has friends from another part of New York, a half an hour drive, and you would have never guessed they lived close to each other; they sounds nothing alike.
ReplyDeleteDialects are everywhere and everyone thinks they speak "normally" and others have an accent. When I was younger I spent my summers on the east coast where I heard an array of accents. Everything from Jersey, New York, and Boston accents. But all of the kids would tell me I spoke funny or that I had a Chicago accent, and of course they were the ones with accents to me. I know I constantly tease my father when he starts to have a Jersey accent instead of his normal Chicago accent. I was also told that I spoke too fast for most people and I felt that that had to do with the area I was from. Even with in a state there are different accents and dialects. For instance, we had a woman from Southern Illinois work with us at my home store in Northern Illinois; while she was working with us she used terms such as "warsh" or "sack" and to be honest I never heard someone call a bag a sack before that summer. I think it's safe to say that there isn't a region in the country that doesn't have it's own accent or dialect, we all just think we are the ones who speak like we should.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this article on dialects and the diversity Ohio has in it's borders. If you have traveled at all you will know that Dialects change everywhere you go. Even just going to SIU you can see the difference between, students from the north and students from the south. It makes no difference where you are from, you think you speak normal and everyone else speaks with an accent.
ReplyDeleteThis article talks about dialectics, and its boundaries in the United States. I found it interesting that there are different approaches for different states, and areas in that state. They range from perceptual dialectology, to folk perceptions. I think it is amazing how states can be so different although they are all in the same country. They even descried how different Ohio is, even in the same state. They broke the state up into 12 respondents.
ReplyDeleteI did not really enjoy this article because I understand that people from different regions have different dialects. I guess it is interesting a little that people have different dialects but that's just how it goes people from different regions talk differently.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jacob and think that this would be an interesting study to do in Illinois. Our state is so long and bordered by so many other states, that dialectical differences are inevitable. Being from the Chicagoland area, I believe that almost everyone from Southern Illinois has a "Southern Accent" and that my dialect is overall the "more right" choice of the two. Even though that may not necessarily be true.
ReplyDeleteThis article was interesting, I noticed the difference in dialects in some areas around the state of Illinois. When I went to school in Chicago, there were many different accents because there was such a diversity of students. When I came to SIU I noticed the difference between the two places, and if you go to Kentucky you here the difference as well. I thought this article was really interesting, I would have never thought to do this type of experiment, I found it very interesting. Even when I went to Germany, there was a difference in German as well.
ReplyDeleteNormally we think of accents, and those pertaining to people of different countries or regional areas It is strange how many different accents can be found in the same region i think it just depends on the people you are around and the environment that you are in. Though we each think we speak "normal" everyone has a different perception of what normal is. The idea of dialects are fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI agree that everyone probably believes that their accent is the "correct" one. It's very interesting though how people develop different accents so easily though. I have cousins that have lived all over the country for multiple years at a time. Every time I get the chance to see them there accents change. I also find it interesting that a place like Florida, the most southern state, it is actually rare to find a southern accent because of all the variety of people that flock there.
ReplyDeleteThis article is particularly interesting because it address the dialects of different regions, not by the usual comparison among different countries, but instead, among the states along the American borders. When accents are envisioned, they are normally associated with European, Brittish, and any other forms of foreign language, but accents apply to different states as well. Since there are many variations among language dialect, it can be very difficult to assess the differences between regions of close similarities. Examples of these differences can be recognized simply by those who have had access to continued education, and those who have not. The selection of words one uses is dialect, making it seemingly more understandable to comprehend what dialect actually is.
ReplyDeleteIn the article, "Folk Linguistic Perceptions and the Mapping of Dialect Boundaries", by Eric J. Benson was very interesting. In this study, the author explains how she surveyed people from Ohio on their opinions of dialect boundaries. She showed them a map and asked them to draw the boundary lines for the difference in dialect regions. The surveyors then were asked to categorize the areas as 1.exactly like you 2. a little different 3. somewhat different and 4. different. Her findings showed that many people have many different opinions, especially the south. I think that this article is interesting and wouldn't mind having this done in Illinois.
ReplyDeleteI have lived in Southern Illinois my entire life and I honestly never thought about having a different dialect than other people in the state. However, once I started attending SIU I could really see the difference. I do not think I have ever stopped to evaluate my own dialect, however, I have noticed how other people have different dialects than I do. So in essence, I suppose I do have a different dialect, I am not quite sure what that dialect is but I do know that I must have one because it appears that everyone does. This article was interesting to me and I think this might be something I pay a little more attention to.
ReplyDeleteI found this article interesting! It held my interest throughout its entirety. As far as Northern and Southern Illinois is concerned, I believe there is a difference between accents. For example, I have two roommmates this semester. One is from Chicago, while the other is from Charleston. Both girls speak differently than I do. My roommate from Chicago says things like "got" with a certain tone to it. While my roommate from Charleston has her twangs as well. However, they both say "Pop" or "Coke" when speaking of soda (which I NEVER do). I was so confused when they first told me this I had to ask them when you go somewhere and ask for a "Coke" what they give you and if you get a choice or not. It was all new to me!
ReplyDeleteBasically, dialects are an outcome of living in different regions, cultures, and areas. This article directly points it out by asking people their opinion on regions dialects. There is a variety of dialects in the U.S and many don’t notice it in till they go into a different area. Specially, here in college where you meet people from all different regions and Illinois areas. Before coming to southern Illinois I had no idea that people had southern accents. I thought since Illinois is a northern state most spoke standard English . Not only did I realize southern Illinois had an accent but that the north did too.
ReplyDeleteI found this article very interesting talking about dialects because if you go to certain areas you start to notice how many people speak differently. They have different accents especially people from the south, there known to have an strong accent. Then you have the people from the north that have a different accent.
ReplyDeleteI learned this information in anthropology class. Some dialects are easy to understand and some are not like a small island in Massachusetts which I have not idea what they said in the movie (the teacher showed us). I also learned that someone true dialect comes out when they are scared or angry. Most people use a form of business dialect which is "proper English". If you don't use a business dialect then you come off sounding stupid or less educated.
ReplyDeleteDialects are very interesting to learn about. They are indicators on where someone is from when one is speaking. For example, people from the East Coast have strong "New York" dialect when they speak and they emphasize on every syllable in a word. Another example is Southern dialect is very short and slow. Southern dialect tends to shorten words, and an example of that is the saying "you all" in Southern dialect would be "yall". I find this very interesting that there are so many different dialects throughout the world.
ReplyDeleteI believe it's true that everyone has their own dialect. Even though you may think you don't have a accent you may do have one. I know that it's a difference in dialect in Chicago. People from the south end talk differently from people from the north end. Everytime I go out of town people ask me am I from Chicago, because I sound like I'm from Chicago (what ever that means), but it's because o certain words I say. They sound funny to me too.
ReplyDeleteI thoroughly enjoyed this article. I live up by Chicago and I am told I have one of the grossest nasle Chicago accents. However, the rest of my family live only four hours south of my and have one the strongest southern accents I have ever heard in all my traveling. When I went to CO which would be considered a neutral area I was convinced everyone had accents and they didn't even have to ask me where I was from. They always made from of me when I used words such as "saaaaahhhhhhsage" (sausage).
ReplyDeleteThis article is about people that were surveyed about dialects and then asked to categorize the areas on a map as people being 1.exactly like you 2. a little different 3. somewhat different and 4. different. Of course, dialects range far and wide. I come from a very small town, country area where my high school class had 30 students. I have been around "hick" dialects all my life and have been surprised to hear that some people think I have a little of it. Dialects really make meeting new people very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI found it peculiar how there are so many different kinds of accents that can be found within the same area. Although I have thought about this kind of diversity before, I had never heard of someone actually taking the liberty to record the differences by conducting an experiment, even though I have pondered on this notion before (which I even discussed with some friends at Thanksgiving dinner). It seems that one’s speech pattern could be difficult to research and gather data, because he or she is influenced by many external factors. For instance, I realize that I speak much differently now than I did prior to entering college; the people that I have interacted with at SIU, whether it is with students or with professors, have greatly influenced my speech—for the better—predominately because I am now more aware of what it is I say and how I say it.
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