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north carolina language and life project

Nov 12, 2015

Cherokee Language Film Wins Awards

The documentary about the Cherokee language made by NC State linguistics professor Walt Wolfram and his colleagues in the North Carolina Language and Life Project recently won awards at three film festivals. 

A woman listens in on a conversation between two merchants at the North Carolina famers market.

Jul 27, 2015

So Long, Drawl

For more than half a century, the familiar Southern accent has been fading in Raleigh. Its disappearance has been so slow that locals may not even have noticed. But for Robin Dodsworth, associate professor in sociolinguistics at NC State, the decline tells the story of rapid social change across the urban South. 

Apr 8, 2015

The Linguists Are Coming! The Linguists Are Coming!

Jeffrey Reaser discusses the importance of linguistics and NC State's role in understanding the language of North Carolina. 

Apr 1, 2015

UNC-TV to Air Cherokee Film

See the award-winning documentary about saving the Cherokee language, produced by NC State's North Carolina Language and Life Project, next Thursday on WUNC-TV at 10 p.m. 

Nov 20, 2014

Film Brings Cherokee Language to Life

See an award-winning film examining efforts to save the Cherokee language. The NC State team behind the one-hour documentary premieres its work Friday at the N.C. Museum of History. 

Jun 5, 2014

‘Talkin’ Tar Heel’ Explores Dialects

A new book by NC State sociolinguists Walt Wolfram and Jeffrey Reaser explains how our voices tell the story of North Carolina. 

Oct 10, 2013

Linguistics Project the Talk of the Fair

If you speak one of the diverse dialects of North Cackalacky, you'll feel right at home visiting Walt Wolfram's display at the State Fair this month. Speak nicely and you may even get a button courtesy of the North Carolina Language and Life Project. 

Mar 12, 2013

Outer Banks English

Take a listen to an excerpt of the dialect of the Carolina Outer Banks from the documentary Voices of North Carolina. 

Mar 1, 2013

Film Turns Eye (and Ear) on Core Sound

Life on Core Sound in coastal North Carolina hasn't changed much in three centuries. Neal Hutcheson explores the people, culture and dialect of the region in his new film, "Core Sounders," premiering this month. 

May 17, 2012

Keeping Language Alive

English professor Walt Wolfram and his students help keep a dialect alive on the Outer Banks. 

Apr 10, 2012

The New Spring Break

Spring break isn't just about partying. This year, NC State students spent their time off learning about textiles in Peru and teaching linguistics in Ocracoke. 

Mar 1, 2011

Hutcheson Honored for Documentary Films

Video producer Neal Hutcheson has been awarded the 2011 Brown Hudson Award from the North Carolina Folklore Society. He was honored for extensive documentary work on traditional culture in North Carolina. 

Jan 14, 2010

Wolfram Honored

The Linguistic Society of America honored Dr. Walt Wolfram with its prestigious Linguistics, Language and the Public Award at its 84th annual meeting in Baltimore, Md. 

Oct 8, 2009

Wolfram Honored for Outreach

Dr. Walt Wolfram, director of the North Carolina Language and Life Project, received the Linguistics, Language and the Public Award from the Linguistic Society of America.