Perception is Reality: Examining Negative Connotations associated with an Appalachian Accent
Word Count: 1,224
ERH 303, Section 1
Date Due: 2 May 2017
Date Sub.: 2 May 2017
Research Essay 2
Help Received:
Peer editing, MAJ Iddings conference, cited references
Christian S. Nelms
One of the most unique and noticeable features about someone from Appalachia is their accent. Over time, this accent has distinguished itself from other kinds of accents, and is viewed by many native Appalachians as a prideful representation of the region (Dial). On the contrary, the accent is sometimes met with negative depictions of people who speak this way as racists, incompetent, and unprofessional. Although a large part of the Appalachian region lies in the Midwest, the Appalachian accent has becomes synonymous with the Southern accent to people outside the region (Coalfields to Cornfields). This notion leads to the consolidation of historic Appalachian culture with historic Southern culture, which leads to subconscious perceptions of racist and intolerant values that existed in the South during the Civil War and Civil Rights eras (Dial, Parker). The accent has also been depicted as linguistically inferior in the educational system, which has enforced the notion that speaking with this accent makes one uneducated and incompetent (Reaser, Wolfram). Many Appalachians have found that their accent has made them less marketable in the professional world, and have made attempts to hide or reduce their accent to avoid these stereotypes (USA Today). Negative perceptions of the Appalachian dialect stem from subconscious association with historic Southern values, and continue to exist due to linguistic inferiority within the educational system.
The Appalachian accent is distinct to those who live within the region, but is often associated as a Southern accent to people outside of the region. Roots of the Appalachian accent stem from Scottish, Irish, and German settlers, whose influence is seen in many phrases that are still used today (Dial). For example, the Scottish phrase “pooch”, used primarily in the 1600s and roughly translates to “pouch”, is still used within the region (Dial); additionally, placing the consonant “r” at the end of words such as “potaters”, “tomaters”, and “tobaccer”, is also used and of Scottish origin (Dial). Over time, these nuances in speech distinguished the Appalachian accent from the generic Southern drawl, even in parts of the region where the two accents overlapped (Dial, Coalfields to Cornfields). Despite the large proportion of Appalachia in the Midwestern and Northern parts of the country, the Appalachian accent has become synonymous with a Southern accent to people outside the region because of the regional overlap, and because both accents use similar forms of “vernacular” English (Dial). In many parts of the country, Appalachian’s who speak with an accent are often asked questions such as, “You aren’t from here are you? You sound Southern”, when greeting and introducing themselves to people (Coalfields to Cornfields). Although many people from outside the region see the accent as a cute and charming first impression (Coalfields to Cornfields), others might not favor the accent due to the inherent connotations of racism and intolerance that were prevalent in the historic Southern region (Dial).
The connotation of racism associated with the Appalachian accent stems from its linguistic association to historical Southern culture, which included the harsh treatment of minorities during the Civil War and Civil Rights eras. In many instances, Appalachian culture becomes associated with these parts of history in spite of evidence disputing this notion. For example, many Appalachian communities had conflicting opinions on succession during the pre Civil War era, did not own slaves, and chose to fight for the Union during the war (Humphreys). Additionally, some Appalachian communities desegregated in a more peaceful fashion many other cities during the Civil Rights Movement, though these instances are largely omitted from the narrative of that time period (Parker). Appalachian culture has become generalized as Southern culture because it is widely unknown to people outside the region, which makes it easy to generalize someone speaking with an Appalachian accent as racist or intolerant of others.
In addition to the negative historical connotation associated with an Appalachian accent, the dialect itself is thought to be a “linguistic inferior” (Reaser) form of English, leading to assumptions that people who speak with an Appalachian accent are uneducated. Every language is composed of its unique phrases and dialects, and although it is impossible to say that one form of a language is the “correct” way to speak, this has never been the case throughout history; the form of a language perceived to be “correct” will always favor the speech habits of the social and political majority (Reaser), and will be reinforced through its usage in formal and professional writing (Wolfram, Reaser). In the educational system, children who speak forms of vernacular language, such as an Appalachian accent, are immediately put at a disadvantage as they attempt to accommodate to the “correct” form of English taught at the primary and secondary school levels (Wolfram, Reaser). Many students become understandably frustrated with this challenge, which insinuates the dialogue that these students are “lacking ability, effort, or motivation” (Wolfram, Reaser). Assessments such as standardized tests automatically favor children who are more accustomed to this form of English, and continually disadvantage students who speak in vernacular languages. The effects of this issue have lead to the general stereotype that claim the Appalachian population is generally uneducated, citing point differentials in standardized test scores as evidence to the claim (Wolfram). Subsequently, many Appalachians feel self-conscious about their accent, thinking it makes them appear unprofessional and unmarketable in places outside the region.
As a way to avoid the negative connotations associated with possessing an Appalachian accent, older Appalachians have begun teaching their children to “code switch”, i.e. omit their accent in selective situations (Coalfields to Cornfields). One class taught to children in Pikeville, Kentucky, advertises that learning to hide one’s Appalachian accent “broadens their performance opportunities and increase overall marketability” (USA today). Additionally, teachers and parents argue “If you want to work professionally, you need to be able to drop the accent when it’s required” (USA today). It is interesting that older generations of Appalachians have seen the potential consequences associated with their accent, and feel that mastering the art of code switching is critical for the success of the younger generations. The creation of these kinds of programs for Appalachian youth show that negative connotations surrounding the accent are still prevalent in the country, and it is uncertain whether they will ever cease to exist.
In conclusion, the Appalachian accent is distinct and unique, but often becomes synonymous with a Southern accent due to general ignorance of Appalachian culture coupled with the geographic overlap of the two regions (Dial). Although the accent resembles Southern hospitality for some, many people outside the region associate the accent with historical Southern values such as racism and intolerance (Dial, Parker). Although many parts of Appalachia did not share similar values to the Southern region, outsiders still associate these negative historic Southern values with Appalachian people as well (Humphreys, Parker). In the educational system, people who speak with an Appalachian accent are perpetually disadvantaged due to the ways in which the English language is biased towards the social and economically dominant classes (Reaser, Wolfram). This academic disadvantage lead to the stereotype that speaking with an Appalachian means one is less educated, and subsequently less marketable in the professional world (Reaser, Wolfram, USA Today). To alleviate this problem, many older Appalachian are teaching their children that they must learn to hide their accent, or code switch, in order to appear more educated to potential employers (USA Today).
Works Cited
1.) Dial, Wylene P. “The Dialect of the Appalachian People.” West Virginia Division of Culture and History, Jan. 1969, www.wvculture.org/history/journal_wvh/wvh30-2.html. Accessed 20 Apr. 2017.
2.) Cornfields to Coalfields. WordPress, 4 Aug. 2015, coalfieldstocornfields.wordpress.com/2015/08/04/
my-appalachian-accent-you-arent-from-here-are-you/. Accessed Apr. 2017.
3.) James S. Humphreys. Review of Dunaway, Wilma A., Slavery in the American Mountain South. H-Appalachia, H-Net Reviews. August, 2006.
4.) Parker, Patrick Shane. “Appalachian Activists: The Civil Rights Movement In Asheville, NC.”
Library: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Appalachian State University, Aug.
2016, libres.uncg.edu/ir/asu/f/Parker,%20Patrick_2016_Thesis.pdf. Accessed Apr. 2017.
5.) Wolfram, Walt. “Black Children are Verbally Deprived.” Language Myths.
6.) Reaser, Jeffrey. “Dialect and Education in Appalachia.” Talking Appalachian: Voice, Identity, and Community.
7.) “Class seeks to rid kids of their Appalachian accents.” USA Today, 4 Feb. 2005,
usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/2005-02-04-accent-class_x.htm. Accessed 20 Apr. 2017.
8.) The Confederate States of America. The History Channel, www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/ confederate-states-of-america.