Dialect Differences in Ohio

Does a dialect shift occur in Ohio and if so where??

This project will:
• Determine the existence of an accent boundary in the state of Ohio based on differences in two vowel sounds: /æ/ and / e/ .
• I have always noticed differences in pronunciation, asking my friends to repeat certain words just to hear the differences. Now, as a Communication Disorders major, this topic is even more relevant,and I can apply what I have learned about speech production and perception to it .
• I have found 7 subjects, five females and two males.Two of the subjects were from Northeast Ohio and the other five were from central to southern Ohio.
• I recorded all participants saying the vowel sounds /æ/ and / e/ and compared them in Sona Match Real-Time Vowel Charts. I am going to see if the differences in pronunciation are grouped on a map of Ohio according to where the speakers live .

Abstract: Whether it is the nasally northeast or a more drawling south, there is no doubt that there is variety in speech and dialect throughout the state of Ohio. Where, though, do Ohioans draw the line? This study sampled the speech of several Ohio residents from different parts of the state. They were each asked to read the standard “Rainbow Passage” aloud. Then the vowel sounds /æ/ and / e/ were extracted and analyzed to determine how each vowel was pronounced differently in each area of Ohio and where in the state the change in pronunciation begins to occur.