The Appalachian Kentucky Dialect Survey (AKDS)
Our flagship initiative, the Appalachian Kentucky Dialect Survey, is a multi-decade project aiming to create the most detailed linguistic map of the state's mountain region. Launched in 2002, the AKDS involves trained fieldworkers conducting structured interviews with lifelong residents in every county within the Appalachian Regional Commission's definition for Kentucky. The interview includes a word list for phonetic analysis, a sentence completion task for grammar, and a free conversation segment to capture natural speech. To date, we have archived over 1,200 interviews, each meticulously transcribed and tagged with metadata about the speaker's age, occupation, and community. This vast dataset allows us to track subtle variations, such as the pronunciation of the vowel in 'fire' (often a two-syllable 'fahr') or the use of the prefix 'a-' in words like 'a-goin'.
The Digital Archive of Appalachian Speech (DAAS)
This project focuses on the preservation of the raw audio itself. The Digital Archive of Appalachian Speech is a secure, cloud-based repository hosting thousands of hours of recorded speech, stories, songs, and conversations. What sets DAAS apart is its sophisticated searchability. Using speech-to-text technology calibrated for Appalachian phonology, researchers and community members can search for specific words or phrases across the entire collection. For instance, one can query 'holler' (meaning a small valley) and hear it pronounced in contexts from Letcher County to McCreary County. The archive also includes rare recordings donated by families, transferring old cassette tapes and reel-to-reel recordings from the mid-20th century into a durable digital format. Access protocols balance open scholarship with the privacy and wishes of contributors.
The Lexicon of Mountain Speech Project
Beyond sounds and grammar, vocabulary is a vibrant marker of regional identity. The Lexicon Project is an ongoing effort to build a comprehensive, crowdsourced dictionary of Appalachian Kentucky English. While we have a core team of lexicographers, the project actively invites submissions from the public via a simple online form. We collect not just the word and its definition, but its etymology (where known), example sentences, and notes on where it is commonly heard. This has captured everything from well-known terms like 'jag' (a load of wood) and 'boomer' (a red squirrel) to highly localized terms fading from use. The project also tracks neologisms and borrowings, showing how the language continues to evolve. A published volume of the lexicon is updated every five years, and an interactive online version is continuously refreshed.
The Generational Shift Study
A pressing sociological question is how Appalachian speech is changing across generations. This longitudinal study, begun in 2010, follows three generational cohorts within the same families and communities: seniors (70+), middle-aged adults (40-55), and young adults (18-25). By recording the same individuals every five years and administering consistent linguistic tasks, we can measure the rate of change in real-time. Preliminary findings show that while core grammatical features like double modals ('might should') are retained more than expected, certain phonetic features and traditional vocabulary items are receding among the youngest cohort, especially those with greater digital connectivity. This study is crucial for targeting preservation efforts and understanding the mechanisms of language change under conditions of increased mobility and media saturation.
Collaborative Geographic Mapping
In partnership with geographers and GIS specialists, we are creating dynamic maps that overlay linguistic data with geographical, historical, and economic data. Where is the word 'light bread' (for store-bought white bread) used versus 'loaf bread'? How does the pronunciation of 'creek' (as 'crick') correlate with watershed boundaries and historical settlement patterns? These maps visually demonstrate that dialects do not follow county lines but rather the paths of rivers, ridges, and old railroad lines. This project makes our research直观 and accessible, showing the deep connection between language and the physical landscape of Appalachia. It also helps identify 'linguistic hotspot' communities where traditional speech remains strongest, guiding our community outreach and documentation priorities.