English in the Southern United States [Hardcover]

2003 overview of the foundations of and research on language variation in southern United States.The English of the southern United States is possibly the most studied of any regional variety of any language. However, most, if not all, books about Southern American English have been directed almost exclusively toward scholars already working in the field. This volume, written by a team of experts, many of them internationally known, provides a broad overview of the foundations of and current research on language variation in the southern United States designed to invite new inquiry and inquirers.The English of the southern United States is possibly the most studied of any regional variety of any language. However, most, if not all, books about Southern American English have been directed almost exclusively toward scholars already working in the field. This volume, written by a team of experts, many of them internationally known, provides a broad overview of the foundations of and current research on language variation in the southern United States designed to invite new inquiry and inquirers.The English of the Southern United States is possibly the most studied of any regional variety of any language. However, most, if not all, books about Southern American English have been directed almost exclusively toward scholars already working in the field. Written by a team of experts, many of them internationally known, this volume provides a broad overview of the foundations of, and current research on, language variation in the Southern United States.Introduction; 1. The origins of southern American English John Algeo; 2. Shakespeare in the coves and hollows? Toward a history of southern English Edgar Schneider; 3. Eight grammatical features of southern US speech present in early modern London prison narratives Laura Wright; 4. The shared ancestry of African-American and American white southern Englishes: some speculations dictated by history Salikoko Mufwene; 5. The complÓ9