From the brickhouse to the swamp

Record Number: 
WOLF008
Citation: 

Wolfram, Walt. “From the brickhouse to the swamp.” American Language Review July/August 2001: 34-38. Key source

Annotation: 

This brief, interestingly written article provides an up-to-date introduction to the origins, development, and characteristics of Lumbee English. Listed below are a few interesting points and features from the article:
• Robeson County residents listening to recorded speech samples could correctly identify Lumbee speakers over 80% of the time, confirming Lumbee English as an authentic marker of Lumbee identity;
• Lumbee English has a few distinctive terms (such as yerker, ellick, and juvember) and other terms (such as mommuck, headiness, and fatback) that are also found in other dialects of the Southern coastal plains;
• Lumbee English includes some pronunciations that are similar to Applachian English and Outer Banks (NC) English;
• Unusual grammatical features of Lumbee English include use of finite bes and use of weren't with past tense be;
• The distinct features of Lumbee English are still robust; some are increasing in use.

The article includes a 15-item Lumbee Vocabulary Quiz

Key Source: 
yes
First Appeared in 1994 Book?: 
no
Category Tags: 
Publication Type: 
These libraries have back years of this periodical. Check the library catalog of the library of your choice to see if the year you need is available.
Other Features of Work: 
8 photographs, 15-item Lumbee Vocabulary Quiz