Wiley-Blackwell American Voices: How Dialects Differ from Coast to Coast

American Voices is a collection of short, readable descriptions of various American dialects, written by top researchers in the field. written by top researchers in the field and includes Southern English, New England speech, Chicano English, Appalachian English, Canadian English, and California English, among many others fascinating look at the full range of American social, ethnic, and regional dialects written for the lay person Review “This is a terrific book! Its geographical and sociocultural coverage is impressively broad, and its contributors include the leading experts on each variety. Authoritative content, accessible writing, jazzy titles and copious photographs combine to make this a volume that linguistic professionals, college students, and the general public will find equally inviting.” John R. Rickford, Stanford University “Walt Wolfram must be a very persuasive man. He and Ben Ward have persuaded some of the world’s greatest experts on North American varieties of English to appear between the same covers to create a state-of-the-art, but also extremely accessible and highly enjoyable, book on these fascinating dialects, their pasts, and their futures.” Peter Trudgill, University of Fribourg From the Inside Flap Ever wanted to yak with the Yankees or speak the Big Easy? Well, travel with American Voices across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean to experience both familiar and little-known dialects that are thriving despite the homogenizing pressure exerted by our mass-communication culture. Edited by acclaimed linguist, Walt Wolfram, and consultant editor of Language Magazine, Ben Ward, this collection gives readers a new understanding of language diversity through an engaging look at regional, ethnic, and sociocultural dialects such as African American, Chicano, Cajun, and Jewish English. From the Back Cover Ever wanted to yak with the Yankees or speak the Big Easy? Well, travel with American Voices across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean to experience both familiar and little-known dialects that are thriving despite the homogenizing pressure exerted by our mass-communication culture. Edited by acclaimed linguist, Walt Wolfram, and consultant editor of Language Magazine, Ben Ward, this collection gives readers a new understanding of language diversity through an engaging look at regional, ethnic, and sociocultural dialects such as African American, Chicano, Cajun, and Jewish English. About the Author Walt Wolfram is William C. Friday Distinguished Professor at North Carolina State University. Ben Ward is Consultant Editor of Language Magazine, the Journal of Communication and Education.