Crosspost from LL, Disc: New: Isoglosses and the Midland

[Laurence Horn]

As always, responses should go to the poster, Mr. Kun, as well as to the list.

Larry
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LINGUIST List: Vol-16-655. Sat Mar 05 2005. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 16.655, Disc: New: Isoglosses and the Midland


Date: Sat, 05 Mar 2005 17:39:04
From: Tom Kun < tomkun83 at hotmail.com >
Subject: Isoglosses and the Midland


I have two questions, pertaining to an article I just read which was
apparently written by Charles-James Bailey
(http://www.orlapubs.com/AL/L31.html).

My first question would be, why is the concept of isoglosses still used if
it's so inaccurate?

And second, is there any kind of consensus of the concept of a Midland in
the US?  Kurath defined a ''North Midland'' (north of the Ohio River) and a
''South Midland'' (Appalachians).  Carver labeled those regions ''Lower
North'' and ''Upper South.'' The forthcoming Atlas of North American
English (Labov, Boberg, Ash) limits the Midland to the North Midland and
makes the South Midland part of the South (I think that's the best
definition, considering the Northern and Southern vowel shifts).  Bailey
calls the Midland ''mythology'' and ''one of the worst flights of fancy in
linguistics.''


Linguistic Field(s): Sociolinguistics





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LINGUIST List: Vol-16-655



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