Tag: Sociolinguistics

Nov 9, 2018

NC State’s Walt Wolfram Receives UNC System’s Holshouser Award

For his work toward "improving the quality of life for all North Carolinians," William C. Friday Distinguished University Professor Walt Wolfram has been honored with the 2018 Gov. James E. Holshouser Jr. Award for Excellence in Public Service. 

Jul 14, 2017

Combatting Stereotypes About Appalachian Dialects

There’s a long history of misconceptions about the Appalachian dialect. Walt Wolfram, sociolinguistics, featured. 

Jun 9, 2017

Wolfram in NYC to discuss “Talking Black in America”

NC State Professor of English Walt Wolfram was in New York recently to discuss "Talking Black in America" on the Build Series. The documentary produced by Wolfram and NC State's Language and Life Project explores the story and impact of African American speech in our culture. 

May 4, 2017

Constructing Identity Among Italians at NC State

Using language as a window into their experiences, NC State graduate student and Fulbright fellow Cecilia Tomasatti conducted interviews with not only Italian students, but also faculty, about what it’s like to adapt to another country’s climate, culture and cuisine. 

May 2, 2017

‘Talking Black’ Documentary Has Really Got People Talking

A new documentary from NC State's Language and Life project focuses on African-American speech, its cultural importance and how it has shaped modern American English. News and Observer columnist Barry Saunders describes the documentary's standing-room-only premiere. Walt Wolfram, English, featured. 

Aug 22, 2016

Preserving the Spanish of Yucatan

For Foreign Languages and Literatures professor Jim Michnowicz Think and Do means, among other things, preserving linguistic diversity around the world, particularly Latin America. 

Jul 7, 2016

Is There A Washington D.C. Accent?

Strawberries, Maryland and your mother play a starring role in this edition of What’s With Washington, in which we answer a question posed by several listeners: Does the Washington D.C. region have an accent? Walt Wolfram, English and sociolinguistics, featured. 

Jun 23, 2016

CoastLine: Gender Differences in Speech – Perception or Power Dynamic?

Language is widely considered to be as much a function of gender as any other gender expression – whether clothing, gender-normative interests such as interior decorating, or personality traits. Caroline Myrick, sociolinguistics, featured. 

Apr 27, 2016

Study Breaks New Ground in Analyzing Colombian Spanish

Juan David Gutierrez's passion for languages has led him to research the differences in regional Spanish dialects in Colombia, providing emergent insight in an area without much existing data. 

Apr 21, 2016

Research Examines ‘SHtriking’ Sound Change in Raleigh

NC State graduate student Eric Wilbanks studies how sounds change in speech. In one of his latest projects, the M.A. in linguistics candidate honed in on (str) retraction, or when /s/ is spoken more like /sh/ in (str) clusters (e.g., “SHtreet”).