User:Makel Taylor/Appalachian English

Linguistic boundaries of Appalachian English
The systematic study of linguistic boundaries in the United States has advanced, succeeding its inception in 1949. The systematic study of linguistic boundaries in the United States was established by Hans Kurath. Hans Kurath was an American linguist that is acknowledged for his role as chief editor of the ''Linguistic Atlas of New England. The Linguistic Atlas of New England'' was the earliest, complete linguistic atlas of a broad region. Furthermore, many of Hans Kurath's initial ideas about linguistic boundaries are under discussion in the modern-day. Appalachian English is one of the linguistic boundaries constructed by Hans Kurath. The origins of Appalachian English can be traced back to Scottish-Irish ancestors, and include unique grammatical and lexical differences Appalachian English can be found in the following states: West Virginia; Eastern Kentucky; North Carolina; Northwestern Georgia; Northern South Carolina; Western Virginia; Alabama; and Tennessee. Notwithstanding, when it comes to determining its specific boundaries, some linguists believe that the boundaries should be fuzzy lines. These fuzzy lines should provide rough ideas of boundaries, rather than hard lines, because there is a lot of dialectic variety within these small areas that is often difficult to differentiate. The reality is a range of dialectic variants are commonplace in the Appalachian area of the country. Categorizing all of these different variants under one umbrella may actually further complicate the process of studying the variants of Appalachian speech. Appalachian English is actually the oldest form of English to date-including the Shakespearean dialect-which can be a factor contributing to the myth of the dialect being outdated.

Stereotypical views of Appalachian English
In addition to the linguistic boundary debates, Appalachian English is surrounded by stereotypical views of the area and the people living in it. A sense of “Appalachianism” is positively correlated with a shortage in access to environmental influences. These environmental influences include the following: housing; schooling; occupation; medical assistance; and wealth distribution. Appalachian English is often viewed by outsiders as a dialect of uneducated people. Individuals from Appalachia are perceived as being low-income and lower class. . Historically, these ideas originated prior to the onset of the American Civil War. Appalachian stereotypes are damaging to natives of the area. Consequently, natives hide or modify their accent when visiting or moving to areas outside of Appalachia. This is done in fear of accent discrimination. Accent discrimination undermines intelligence and the character of an individual. Furthermore, easier access to social relations via the internet has expanded the quantity of negative beliefs associated with individuals from Appalachia. Despite all of the debates surrounding this dialect and whether or not its boundaries are legitimate and correct, to the people of Appalachia, their variety of English is central to their identities regardless of how it is seen by linguists, as well as outsiders. According to expert linguist Kirk Hazen, “Appalachia is the most misunderstood region in the nation,”. There are roles/portrayals of the language that have inspired it to be falsely associated with a stereotypical “hillbilly”. Thus, creating misjudgments from non-Appalachians about the region.

Lead
Many of the original ideas about linguistic boundaries in the US were proposed by American linguist, Hans Kurath in 1949, but many are under discussion in the modern-day. Appalachian English is one of linguistics boundaries made by Kurath. The origins of this dialect can be traced back to Scottish-Irish ancestors, and include unique grammatical and lexical differences. Appalachian English can be found in eight states (West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, North Carolina, Northwestern Georgia, Northern South Carolina, Western Virginia, Alabama, and Tennessee). When it comes to determining its specific boundaries, some linguists believe that the boundaries should be fuzzy lines, giving rough ideas of boundaries, rather than hard lines, because there is a lot of dialectic variety within these small areas that are often difficult to differentiate. '''Additionally, categorizing all of these different variants under one umbrella may actually further complicate the process of studying the variants of Appalachian speech. Appalachian English is actually the oldest form of English to date, including the Shakespearean dialect, which can be a factor contributing to the myth of the dialect being outdated. '''

Article body
The reality is a range of dialectic variants are commonplace in the Appalachian area of the country. '''Categorizing all of these different variants under one umbrella may actually further complicate the process of studying the variants of Appalachian speech. Appalachian English is actually the oldest form of English to date, including the Shakespearean dialect, which can be a factor contributing to the myth of the dialect being outdated (Williams, 1978). The origins of this dialect can be traced back to Scottish-Irish ancestors, and include unique grammatical and lexical differences (Ellis, 1993).'''

In addition to the boundary debates, Appalachian English is surrounded by stereotypical views of the area and the people living in it. A sense of “Appalachianism” is positively correlated with a shortage in access to environmental influences. These environmental influences include the following: housing; schooling; occupation; medical assistance; and wealth distribution. Appalachian is often viewed by outsiders as a dialect of uneducated people. Persons from Appalachia are perceived as being low-income and lower class. Historically, these ideas originated prior to the onset of the American Civil War. Appalachian stereotypes are damaging to natives of the area. Consequently, natives hide or modify their accent when visiting or moving to areas outside of Appalachia. This is done in fear of accent discrimination. Accent discrimination undermines intelligence and the character of an individual. Furthermore, easier access to social relations via the internet has expanded the quantity of negative beliefs associated with individuals from Appalachia.

Despite all of the debates surrounding this dialect and whether or not its boundaries are legitimate and correct, to the people of Appalachia, their variety of English is central to their identities regardless of how it is seen by linguists, as well as outsiders. It is said that, “Appalachia is the most misunderstood region in the nation,” from expert Kirk Hazen. There are roles/portrayals of the language that have inspired it to be misrepresented as a stereotypical “hillbilly”  to non-Appalachians about the region.