Dialect & Music

Cultural Expression: Sound

Focus for Discussion

  • Upcoming focus on sound; especially Appalachian speech and oral traditions.

  • Overview of today: Discuss Appalachian speech, oral traditions, and music.

  • Contextual exploration: Relations between Appalachian music and broader American context.

Central Questions

  • Exploratory question on sound: "What does this place sound like?"

  • Connection to previous discussions about sounds from communities like Matewan and Harlan County, USA.

Student Engagement

  • Jacob's Reaction: Noted that the sounds in Harlan County matched expectations with distinct accents and ways of speaking.

  • Reflection on personal experience: The impact of watching "Harlan County" heightened the speaker’s accent.

Defining Appalachian Speech

  • Important to delve into accent, forms of speech, and vocabulary.

  • Question posed: Is there a distinct, cohesive regional dialect?

    • Definition of dialect:

    • Dialect: A particular way of speaking, encompassing vocabulary, pronunciation (accent), and grammatical structures.

  • Classroom poll on whether a distinct dialect exists:

    • Show of hands indicating opinions on the existence of a cohesive dialect.

Student Definitions of Key Terms

  • Activity: Students worked in pairs to define terms without using technology. The specific terms included:

    • Poke: Two definitions discussed:

    • As a vegetable, cooked before consumption; harmful if raw.

    • A bag or sack (e.g., "pig in a poke").

    • Haint: Refers to a spirit or ghost.

    • Ramp: A vegetable akin to garlic or wild onion.

    • Sop: To soak up liquid with food or a term describing a poor or drunk person.

    • Cygodlin: Described as something being crooked or out of place.

Further Vocabulary Exploration

  • Additional regional terms discussed:

    • Billfold: Wallet.

    • Toboggan: A beanie or winter hat in certain regions, differing from sled use elsewhere.

Assessing the Cohesiveness of Dialect

  • Arguments supporting the view of a distinct and cohesive dialect include:

    • Reflections on personal anecdotes from watching formal Appalachian speech.

    • Notable example: Lois Scott from "Harlan County, USA" displayed a thick accent.

    • Distinction in sound and vocabulary evidencing regional cohesion—emphasis on uniformity in dialect across locations in Appalachia.

Theoretical Frameworks in Appalachian Studies

  1. Prescriptivist Perspective:

    • Views Appalachian English as a deviation from standard English.

    • Standard English as the norm, with prescriptive assumptions towards correctness in speech.

    • Historical context includes correction efforts in educational settings that portray Appalachian dialects in derogatory terms.

    • References:

      • Example: Humor and satire in films and media like "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Buck Wild," which stereotype Appalachian speech and culture.

  2. Romanticized Perspective:

    • Posits Appalachian speech as resembling Elizabethan English, seen as preserved due to geographical isolation.

    • This perspective assumes continuity and a time-frozen nature of language and culture influenced by historical migration.

    • Example includes folklore and ballads, indicating cultural narratives preserved in local dialects.

Counterarguments to the Cohesive Dialect Claim

  • Acknowledgment of variation in local speech as opposed to uniform dialectical features.

  • Critiques of relying on limited vocabulary distinctions (50-100 words) to claim cohesive dialect.

  • Possibility of Distinctiveness:

    • Suggestion that Appalachian speech could embody distinct yet non-cohesive characteristics.

    • Emphasized themes:

    1. Resistance to Speech Change.

    2. Presence of Archaic Vocabulary.

    3. Diverse influences from Southern grammar patterns.

    4. Socioeconomic factors impacting speech patterns (age, occupation, education).

    5. Regional dialect similarities to other geographic cultures (e.g., African American Vernacular English).

Conclusion of Speech Discussion

  • Final reflections before transitioning to music. Importance placed on oral traditions and continued exploration of musical influences within Appalachia's cultural expression.

Introduction to Appalachian Music

Major Music Genres

  1. Old Time Music:

    • Originates prior to bluegrass; encompasses a variety of melodies and influences.

    • Instruments:

      • Common instruments include fiddle, banjo, mandolin; interactions with other genres like blues.

      • Distinct influences include the British Isles and African traditions.

  2. Bluegrass Music:

    • Culturally significant genre; overlap with old time music exists.

    • Notable instruments involved:

      • Fiddle, banjo, upright bass, mandolin, guitar, or autoharp.

    • Distinguishing vocalization and harmony, characterized by higher pitch and intensity, referred to as "high lonesome".

    • Structure includes lead singer with harmonic accompaniment from tenor, baritone, and bass vocalists.

    • Key figures:

      • Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs; significant contributions from other bands including the Stanley Brothers and Doc Watson.

Closing Thoughts

  • Noted the historical relevance of instruments alongside their rich cultural influences.

  • Expressed intent to explore further through audio examples in subsequent classes to deepen understanding of Appalachian cultural expression in music.