BLACKSBURG, Va., July 20 -- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University issued the following news release:
People pronounce the word "Appalachia" differently and much of that contrast depends on where they live. But no matter how you say it, a Virginia Tech project shows that no one way trumps all. The differences are centered in historical and community influences.
The Speech Lab, a network of Virginia Tech faculty members whose work involves linguistics or language science, partnered with the "Appodlachia" podcast to explore the differences in dialect across the 13-state Appalachian mountain region.
The work began with Abby Walker, co-director of the lab, who was interested in researching Appalachian accents and heard about the...