A Boundary Issue within the Midland Dialect Region
Background:
The three main dialects in the middle western area of the United States are the Northern, Midland, and Southern dialects (See figure 2). Labov “further divided [the Midland] into two sections: the Midland North and the Midland South” (Haynie). Labov refers to the Midland north as Indianapolis and above. Furthermore, Indiana had three stages of settlement. First was the South, then the central region, followed by the North. The group that moved into central region can be identified as the Scotts-Irish from Ohio and Pennsylvania. (Haynie). With the three different groups of settlers came three different dialects.
Problem = BOUNDARY LINES
Overtime the dialects of the area changed and merged, but today three distinct dialects are present in Indiana and need to be recognized. I am proposing a Northern dialect, a Midland dialect, and a Southern Midland Dialect. The Northern part of Indiana will officially be recognized as the Inland North dialect and the Chicago dialect specifically. The Midland dialect will be central Indiana and the areas in other states like it. I will now refer to is as the true Midland dialect. The Southern Midland can remain unchanged.
Solution = REDRAW BOUNDARY LINES
The dialect boundaries need to be redrawn, but most specifically, with emphasis on the Midland dialect. For Indiana, the Northern Midland and Southern Midland do not justify the identity of the dialects present in the state. There is a call for a true Midland dialect that is rhotic, undergoing mergers such as the cot/caught and Mary/marry/merry mergers, and uses the want/need + past participle construction. I am proposing a Northern dialect, a Midland dialect, and a Southern Midland Dialect. The Northern part of Indiana will officially be recognized as the Inland North dialect and the Chicago dialect specifically. The Midland dialect will be central Indiana and the areas in other states like it. The Southern Midland can stay unchanged.
The three main dialects in the middle western area of the United States are the Northern, Midland, and Southern dialects (See figure 2). Labov “further divided [the Midland] into two sections: the Midland North and the Midland South” (Haynie). Labov refers to the Midland north as Indianapolis and above. Furthermore, Indiana had three stages of settlement. First was the South, then the central region, followed by the North. The group that moved into central region can be identified as the Scotts-Irish from Ohio and Pennsylvania. (Haynie). With the three different groups of settlers came three different dialects.
Problem = BOUNDARY LINES
Overtime the dialects of the area changed and merged, but today three distinct dialects are present in Indiana and need to be recognized. I am proposing a Northern dialect, a Midland dialect, and a Southern Midland Dialect. The Northern part of Indiana will officially be recognized as the Inland North dialect and the Chicago dialect specifically. The Midland dialect will be central Indiana and the areas in other states like it. I will now refer to is as the true Midland dialect. The Southern Midland can remain unchanged.
Solution = REDRAW BOUNDARY LINES
The dialect boundaries need to be redrawn, but most specifically, with emphasis on the Midland dialect. For Indiana, the Northern Midland and Southern Midland do not justify the identity of the dialects present in the state. There is a call for a true Midland dialect that is rhotic, undergoing mergers such as the cot/caught and Mary/marry/merry mergers, and uses the want/need + past participle construction. I am proposing a Northern dialect, a Midland dialect, and a Southern Midland Dialect. The Northern part of Indiana will officially be recognized as the Inland North dialect and the Chicago dialect specifically. The Midland dialect will be central Indiana and the areas in other states like it. The Southern Midland can stay unchanged.