Scholarly Monographs and Edited Collections
The Kentucky Institute of Appalachian Linguistics maintains an active publications program to disseminate research findings to both academic and general audiences. Our flagship scholarly imprint is the Appalachian Linguistics Series, published in partnership with a university press. This series includes in-depth monographs on specific topics, such as The Phonology of the Upper Cumberland Dialect and Grammatical Variation in the Kentucky Coal Fields. We also publish edited collections that bring together essays from multiple experts, like Language and Identity in Appalachia: New Perspectives and The Scots-Irish Lexicon in America. These volumes undergo rigorous peer review and become standard references in university libraries and linguistics courses. They establish a permanent, citable record of our research, contributing to the cumulative knowledge of the field.
The Journal of Appalachian Dialect Studies (JADS)
We are the proud publisher of the Journal of Appalachian Dialect Studies (JADS), a bi-annual, peer-reviewed academic journal. JADS is dedicated to publishing high-quality research on all aspects of language in the Appalachian region, from phonological analysis and syntactic theory to sociolinguistics, folklore, and language pedagogy. The journal attracts submissions from scholars worldwide, reflecting the global interest in this unique dialect area. It features research articles, review essays, and notes on resources. Publishing JADS allows us to steer the scholarly conversation, ensure a dedicated venue for Appalachian linguistics research, and provide a publishing platform for emerging scholars, including advanced graduate students whose work has been mentored through our programs.
The Digital Archive of Appalachian Speech (DAAS) Public Portal
While the full DAAS is a restricted research tool, we have developed a vibrant public portal to share our treasures with the world. This carefully curated website allows anyone to explore Appalachian speech. Features include a 'Word of the Month' with audio clips and etymology, thematic collections (e.g., 'Mining Terms,' 'Storytelling Sessions'), and a rotating selection of full oral history interviews (with speaker permission). The portal includes interactive maps where users can click on a county to hear a sample of speech from that area. There are also educational modules for K-12 teachers and a blog where our researchers write about recent discoveries. The public portal embodies our commitment to accessibility, turning our archive from a static repository into a dynamic, engaging public resource that educates and inspires.
Community-Facing Pamphlets and Guidebooks
Recognizing that not all our audience wants academic prose, we produce a range of accessible, illustrated publications for community use. Our 'Talking from the Hills' pamphlet series includes titles like Common Appalachian Words and Where They Come From and Our Mountain Grammar: It's Not Wrong, It's Different. These are distributed free at libraries, visitor centers, and community events. We also publish practical guidebooks, such as How to Record Your Family's Stories: A Guide to Oral History, which includes simple technical advice and suggested interview questions. These publications empower community members to become documenters of their own heritage, extending our reach far beyond what our staff could accomplish alone. They are written in clear, jargon-free language and are often co-authored with community advisors.
Curriculum Kits and Multimedia Resources
A significant portion of our publication output is designed for classroom integration. We produce comprehensive curriculum kits for different grade levels. A typical kit might include a teacher's guide, reproducible student handouts, a set of audio CDs or a USB drive with relevant clips from our archive, and suggestions for activities and assessments. Topics range from 'Place Names in Our County' for elementary social studies to 'Analyzing Dialect in Literature' for high school English. We also produce documentary films and podcast series. One popular podcast, 'Holler: Voices from the Kentucky Mountains,' features edited stories from our archives with introductory commentary from linguists. These multimedia resources meet students and the public where they are, using contemporary media to convey the richness of traditional speech, ensuring that our work has a direct and tangible impact on education and public awareness.