Exploring the Midwestern Accent - Or, Is There One?

Brown Bag Lecture Series Spring 2023

Have you considered the Midwestern dialect as the national standard for speech? Learn why it once was intended as the standard for national consumption. You will tackle Midwestern speak from "stops" to "a-raising" while appreciating the linguistic significance of rhoticity; the northern cities' vowel shift, vowel omission, nasal voice resonation, phrase compression, mispronouncing foreign names, and the oddities of this region's colloquialisms. Understand how/why the Midwesterners level their criticisms and technique for gracefully pulling you into the conversation. You'll depart with a new understanding of some linguistic indicators (jargon and slang) that will let you swiftly diagnose the Midwestern accent. "Youz guys" cannot afford to miss this presentation. Remember: this Brown Bag means you can bring lunch-- so don't forget to bring your "pop," or should that be "soda." You'll find out the Midwest's answer.

For information visit www.cochise.edu/cll or call (520) 515-5492

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