Transcripts: Southern Appalachian English

The following is a list of speakers that Joseph Sargent Hall interviewed in the Great Smoky Mountains in 1939. The page for each speaker contains one or more excerpts from the interview including a transcript and sound file.

Transcripts contain highlighted words linked to dictionary entries that feature additional citations and brief word histories.

Clicking on a name will take you to one or more transcripts or anecdotes and a corresponding sound file for each transcript.

The sound files are MP3 format so you will need a player like Windows Media Player or Real Player to hear the interviews. If you wish to print the transcript, the link for printing will open a Word document that you can print or save to your hard drive.

NOTE: If you wish to read the corresponding transcript while you listen to the audio, just minimize the screen with audio segment..

  * Bill Barnes
  * Fonze Cable
  * Mark Cathey
  * Steve Cole
  * D.F. “Doc” Conner
  * Jack Johnson
  * Rhoda McMillon
  * Frank Mehaffey
  * Wiley Oakley
  * Newton Ownby
  * Will Palmer
  * Rebecca Queen
  * Eugene Sutton
  * Jake Sutton
  * Jim Sutton
  * Zilphie Sutton

Jake Sutton’s accent is clearer than some others.

H/T: blogger Macrobius

Charleston offers classes to help rid folks of their accents…:

Pronunciation: Accent Reduction
levels:  Intermediate to Advanced

  * Learn how to use rhythm, stress and intonation to communicate more natuarlly and effectively in English
  * Acquire the ability to self-monitor pronunciation and to overcome accent barriers
  * Receive individual assessment

I’d rather take a class to refine, not erase, my accent.

I posted in this section because some kinists seem to be in Appalachia and so might want to listen to those who came before them and take pride in that.

There is something to be said for modifying extreme accents, if they get in the way of communication (think Cockney English). Eliminating them, however, if silly. Where is the regional charm of speech if we all speak the same blah language?

They don’t make the Latinos out here give up their accents; why Southerners?

Laurel

On a related note, there are some interesting resources on American dialects here:

American Dialect Links

God bless,
Laurel