Pennsylvania Dialects Project (PDP)

Kimberly West
Abstract
Language is active and continuous, as is language variation The Pennsylvania Dialects Project set out this summer as apilot project, one that would begin to identify and document language patterns that are being used currently, as the most recent documentation is dated by more than thirty years, and no longer reflects the current population of the state. Another target of this summers research was to create contrastive analysis charts similar to those used by Dr. Rebecca Wheeler to teach speakers of Pennsylvania Dialects to codeswitch between informal and formal language.

Literature Review
In preparation for PDP, we reviewed texts by Hans Kurath. William Labov and Rebecca Wheeler, among others. We also paid attention to questions asked by the International Dialects of English Archive. From these we gathered ideas on methodology and future usage of the research we gather.

Team Members

Student Researcher: Faculty Partner: Kimberly West Secondary Stephanie Schlitz English Dept Education/English

Methodology
This summer was dedicated to the trial and revamping of our methodology. First, we disseminated a survey through Qualtrics, as well as paper copies. After the initial questionnaire, participants were asked if they would be interested in participating in a personal interview, one where we use Audacity to record responses. The personal interviews were a mixture of different questions, ones that elicited responses we expect based on previous research. In theory, the methodology would yield over 100 personal interviews. However, because of language prejudice, participants were not as willing to aid in a personal interview. Participants were also not as free with their speech because they were conscious of the recording.

Interesting Findings
Most speakers of Pennsylvania English know or are told they have an accent but cannot pinpoint what they say differently. Via personal interviews, participants mention they say words such as <pants> funny. Most of the survey takers identified their national ancestry as Irish or Polish. Via personal interviews, participants of this descent used words like <roof> pronounced like [r^f] or <hotdog> pronounced like [h^tdawg] Speakers are more likely to say poor grammar instead of dialect when asked what differences they notices about speakers of PA Dialect. Speakers identified a combination of words to ease pronunciation. Ex. <Did you eat yet?> /Djeet yet?/ [jit jt?] Ex. <Did you> /Dyou/ [ju] Speakers identified a tendency to use prepositions at the end of a sentence. Ex . <Im goin to the store, dyou wanna go with?>

The Future

In future exploration of PDP, researchers will place emphasis on the restoration of pride in one's heritage, community, and identity by reviving and encouraging the use of dialect. Failure to praise usage will result in the loss of language that has bonded and continues to bond communities and cultures. PDP is currently aiming to continue research through the remainder of the year. In the future, PDP would be open to The most common regional foods pairing with other universities to more accurately cover the identified were: Haluski, Halupki and language usage throughout the state. Pierogies. Supported by a Bloomsburg University Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Award