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Perceptual dialectology

A relatively new field of study is how non-linguists think about linguistic variation, including where people perceive  dialect boundaries to exist. Below are some materials developed by Erica Benson (UW-Eau Claire) for testing this in Wisconsin.

Task 1:

On this map, outline areas where you think people speak differently from you. Label these areas in some way and, if possible, give some examples of the speech characteristics.

Task 2:

Use the following scale to rate each numbered area and each city on Map 2 in terms of how correct you think the language spoken in those areas and cities sounds. Please put all of your answers on the opscan form.

a b c d e

Least correct-----------------------------------Most correct

•  Northern Minnesota

•  Southwest Minnesota

•  Southeast Minnesota

•  Upper Northwest Wisconsin

•  Upper Northeast Wisconsin

•  Central Northwest Wisconsin

•  Central Northeast Wisconsin

•  Central Southwest Wisconsin

•  Central Southeast Wisconsin

•  Lower Southwest Wisconsin

•  Lower Southwest Wisconsin

•  Upper Peninsula of Michigan

•  Northern Lower Michigan

•  Southwest Lower Michigan

•  Southeast Lower Michigan

•  Northwest Iowa

•  Northeast Iowa

•  Southwest Iowa

•  Southeast Iowa

•  Northwest Illinois

•  Northeast Illinois

•  Southwest Illinois

•  Southeast Illinois

•  Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN

•  Eau Claire , WI

•  Green Bay , WI

•  Madison , WI

•  Milwaukee , WI

•  Detroit , MI

•  Chicago , IL

Task 3:

Use the following scale to rate each numbered area and each city on Map 2 in terms of how pleasant you think the language spoken in those areas and cities sounds. Please put all of your answers on the opscan form.

a b c d e

Least pleasant-----------------------------------Most pleasant

•  1-Northern Minnesota

•  2-Southwest Minnesota

•  3-Southeast Minnesota

•  4-Upper Northwest Wisconsin

•  5-Upper Northeast Wisconsin

•  6-Central Northwest Wisconsin

•  7-Central Northeast Wisconsin

•  8-Central Southwest Wisconsin

•  9-Central Southeast Wisconsin

•  10-Lower Southwest Wisconsin

•  11-Lower Southwest Wisconsin

•  12-Upper Peninsula of Michigan

•  13-Northern Lower Michigan

•  14-Southwest Lower Michigan

•  15-Southeast Lower Michigan

•  16-Northwest Iowa

•  17-Northeast Iowa

•  18-Southwest Iowa

•  19-Southeast Iowa

•  20-Northwest Illinois

•  21-Northeast Illinois

•  22-Southwest Illinois

•  23-Southeast Illinois

•  Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN

•  Eau Claire , WI

•  Green Bay , WI

•  Madison , WI

•  Milwaukee , WI

•  Detroit , MI

•  Chicago , IL

Task 4:

Use the following scale to rate each numbered area and each city on Map 2 in terms of how different you think the language spoken in those areas and cities sounds. Please put all of your answers on the opscan form.

Scale:

a = exactly like Eau Claire

b = a little different

c = somewhat different

d = different

•  1-Northern Minnesota

•  2-Southwest Minnesota

•  3-Southeast Minnesota

•  4-Upper Northwest Wisconsin

•  5-Upper Northeast Wisconsin

•  6-Central Northwest Wisconsin

•  7-Central Northeast Wisconsin

•  8-Central Southwest Wisconsin

•  9-Central Southeast Wisconsin

•  10-Lower Southwest Wisconsin

•  11-Lower Southwest Wisconsin

•  12-Upper Peninsula of Michigan

•  13-Northern Lower Michigan

•  14-Southwest Lower Michigan

•  15-Southeast Lower Michigan

•  16-Northwest Iowa

•  17-Northeast Iowa

•  18-Southwest Iowa

•  19-Southeast Iowa

•  20-Northwest Illinois

•  21-Northeast Illinois

•  22-Southwest Illinois

•  23-Southeast Illinois

•  Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN

•  Eau Claire , WI

•  Green Bay , WI

•  Madison , WI

•  Milwaukee , WI

•  Detroit , MI

•  Chicago , IL

Thank You For Your Cooperation!!

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