Midland American English

Midland American English is a distinct regional dialect of American English, characterized by its unique phonetic and lexical features. Geographically, it occupies a central position between the Northern and Southern dialect regions, stretching across states such as Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas.

Phonetic Features

Epenthetic R

A notable phonetic feature of Midland American English is the presence of an epenthetic /r/ sound occurring after /a/ in certain words. For example, "Washington" may be pronounced as "Warshington." This feature is believed to be influenced by Scots-Irish immigrants and is prevalent in areas like West Virginia, Kentucky, and the Midland dialect regions within Ohio and Indiana.

Short-a Phoneme

The short-a phoneme, denoted as /æ/ in the International Phonetic Alphabet, follows a "continuous" and pre-nasal distribution similar to General American English. In words like "fan," the /æ/ is raised and tensed to [eə], while in words like "fact," it remains low at [æ].

Regional Variations and Transitions

St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis has emerged as a unique dialect area within the Midland region, exhibiting distinctive features such as the merger of the phonemes /ɔr/ and /ɑr/ into [ʊɹ], a phenomenon not found in most other American dialects. This area historically resisted the horse-hoarse merger but displayed a card-cord merger.

Evolution and Influence

Throughout the 20th century, the Midland dialect underwent significant shifts. The South Midland region, for example, is experiencing increasing convergence with the broader Southern accent region. In contrast, the North Midland continues to exhibit more "General American" characteristics.

Distinctive Dialects

The Midland region's original boundaries are evolving, with areas like Pennsylvania developing distinct dialects such as Philadelphia English and Pittsburgh English. These changes reflect the dynamic nature of language influenced by cultural and demographic transformations.

American English

American English, also referred to as United States English or U.S. English, represents the collection of dialects of the English language native to the United States of America. It encompasses a wide range of regional dialects and accents shaped by the nation's diverse cultural and ethnic landscape.

Historical Development

The roots of American English can be traced back to the early colonial period, when English settlers brought their language to the New World. Over time, American English evolved under the influence of other languages and cultures, including Spanish, French, German, and indigenous languages of the Native Americans.

The 19th century saw a significant expansion of American English as the nation grew westward, and immigration from Europe and other regions contributed to its richness and variety.

Key Dialects and Varieties

General American

General American is the umbrella term for the standard accent of American English, often perceived as lacking any distinct regional characteristics. This variety is commonly used in national media and is associated with the Midwestern United States.

Southern American English

Southern American English is a collection of dialects primarily spoken across the Southern United States. Known for its distinctive vowel sounds and intonation patterns, it encapsulates the cultural identity of the Southern states.

African-American Vernacular English (AAVE)

African-American Vernacular English, also known as Black English, began as early as the 17th century and has deep roots in African American culture. It is a rich linguistic tradition with its own grammatical, phonological, and lexical features, influencing popular culture and music genres like hip-hop.

Western American English

Western American English is spoken throughout the Western United States, characterized by less vowel reduction and distinct vowel shifts compared to other dialects. It is particularly prevalent in states like California and Nevada.