From Talking to Talkin’ Tar Heel
An Adventures in Ideas EXPRESS seminar offered in collaboration with the North Carolina Museum of History
September 27, 2014
How and why did humans transform sound into speech, and why are there so many languages and dialects? And what in the world is a “dingbatter”? In celebration of the publication of Walt Wolfram and Jeffrey Reaser’s Talkin’ Tar Heel, this seminar will explore the origins of human language and how dialect diversity is a part of the design with distinguished linguist Paul Roberge, and then turn to the authors to help explain why North Carolinians speak the way(s) they do. Every attendee will receive a free copy of Talkin’ Tar Heel, allowing them to directly experience the rich regional, cultural, and ethnic language practices of the past, present, and future in North Cackalacky through its innovative interactive format. Come and learn how and why the language and dialect traditions of the Tar Heel State should be embraced and celebrated along with other cultural and historical traditions.
Topics & Speakers
Linguistic Diversity from an Evolutionary Perspective
Paul Roberge, Professor of Germanic Languages, joint Professor of Linguistics, and Chair of Linguistics
Talkin’ Tar Heel, Language Diversity in North Carolina
Walt Wolfram, William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of English Linguistics, North Carolina State University
Jeffrey Reaser, Associate Professor of English, North Carolina State University
Talkin’ Tar Heel in Public and in the Schools
Professor Wolfram and Professor Reaser
Evolving Languages and the Case for Colloquialisms
A panel discussion with our speakers
Time & Cost
1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, September 27, 2014 at the NC Museum of History in Raleigh. The tuition is $75. Tuition for teachers is $30. No discounts apply to this special event.
For information about lodging click here.
Co-Sponsored by the General Alumni Association.
For information about GAA discounts and other scholarships available to Humanities Program participants, click here.