So, one thing that caught my eye whilst reading chapter five, looking at dialect maps, and reflecting on conversations from English 282 and this class was the make up of dialectal boundaries. On page 130 of the textbook (I was able to find the image on Google and attach it above), there is a map depicting the spread of the use of the word pail. I was really interested in the fact that you could pretty much draw a line across the center of Pennsylvania and separate the pail people from the bucket people. As I kept looking at the above map, I noticed the lingering parts of PA that use the pail. My theory is that these are areas that saw overflow from West Virginia and New Jersey because the flow into Western PA clearly has roots in WV. Likewise with Eastern PA having overflow from NJ. However, as we look at other states in this map, we can see somewhat random breaks in the dialectal continuation. In West Virginia, we can see the continuation in the northeast, but then there is a break that picks up again towards the middle of the state, another break, then it picks up towards the southern border of the state. This continuation on the southern border seems to stem from a chain that stretches from most of Georgia, South Carolina, and some of North Carolina.
However, like I said before, there are several spots in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina where bucket is used over pail, so the question(s) I pose to all of you is: how or why do these gaps form? Do you think part of their formation comes from the movement of people to certain areas and not others? Why do you suppose there are non-concentrated areas surrounded by concentrated areas in the southern states in the above map?
(I apologize for the quality of the image, but that's the best I could do. A clearer, larger image can be found on page 130 of the textbook.)
I think that there are a number of potential reasons for this inconsistent usage, to mirror the number of different reasons for dialectal diversity. One, like you mentioned, is migration. You pointed out a good example of this possibly in effect when you brought up the incidence of "pail" usage in Western Pennsylvania, in close proximity to the "pail" speakers of West Virginia. An additional source of influence is generational distinctions. We sometimes find that quirks of dialect die out as years go by and new generations are born. For example, "redd up" appears to now be confined largely to the older speakers of Pittsburghese; any time you ask someone whether they've heard the term, they seem to either say "No, what is that?" or "Yeah, my grandma says that all the time." It sometimes happens that words go "out of style" as the cultures, experiences, values, etc. of generations change. Kind of with this, dialect becomes a large part of one's identity, such that one may choose to hold onto or let go of certain parts of it in order to maintain a desired image. We looked at a case of this in 282, with respect to an island that, if I remember correctly, was called Martha's Vineyard. The results of the study were something along the lines of the distinct island dialect being kept by youths who had plans to live their adult lives on the island, while youths who had plans to branch out elsewhere tended to train themselves out it. Hence, personal identity and aspirations had direct consequences for individual speaking patterns. The regional variations in the usage of "pail" or "bucket" could stem from any one of these reasons, or perhaps even others I didn't think of. I think more research would have to be conducted on the histories and cultures of these areas in order to ascertain what the specific reasons are behind this regionalization.
ReplyDeleteGenerational distinctions could play a great deal into this. To be completely honest, I've been to different parts of New York, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, of course, but I can't remember hearing pail on a consistent basis. So, maybe that is a generational distinction, but I can't say for sure.
DeleteI see the gap as a result of migration. I remember talking about this in Linguistics, and that seems to make the most sense to me; two migratory groups not communicating, and resulting in a change in dialect. As for the ideas that are not concentrated, I am not totally sure. Maybe they too were separated from a migratory group?
ReplyDeleteAlso, I should add that I am definitely a "bucket" guy.
DeleteBucket is definitely the way to go, Nate. I definitely think that the gap is because of migration. What I'd like to know is why is it these areas? What is driving this linguistic variation in certain areas and not others? Ya know, is it just personal preference, or is it more complicated than that?
DeleteThis is one of the reasons that I love linguistics -- I think it is so interesting to compare terminologies like this. I know when I moved to PA, I would get in mini arguments with my friends over things similar to the pail/bucket distinction. In my case, the biggest disagreement was over forest versus woods. I always grew up calling an area with lots of trees the forest (probably due to the fact the growing up in the desert one would have to drive quite a few hours to find a forest) versus here in PA where you are always surrounded by the woods. My point being, that since I was from somewhere else -- my vocabulary reflected it.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to your questions, I would definitely guess that immigration played a big role in the discrepancies that you found. People are always moving news places and bringing their terms with them -- while I might not have been able to get forest to catch on with my friends here, if a large populations of Arizonians suddenly moved to PA who knows?
I would love to see more maps like the one in your post detailing out different term usage across the country, I always find them so fascinating!
I, too, would love to see more maps of other dialectical variations. I wonder if there are any other comparable patterns with other words? I think seeing these maps and comparing them would answer a lot of my questions.
DeleteHere's my personal thought.
ReplyDeleteIn areas where buckets/pails will be used consistently, it will keep to whatever it is in that area. Farming areas and maybe mining areas are two places I can think of that would use the term frequently. After all, every day you would be hearing Pail/Bucket.
In areas where pails/buckets are used infrequently or barely, I can imagine that it would go to the word more frequently used throughout the country and in media, which is bucket. If they have any exposure to pails/buckets, it will be in TV, books, social media, etc.
You make an interesting point, Moses. It makes sense for usage of either word to based on or around the idea of geographic location. It could have something to do with how frequently you see/use the object. I like that idea and I'm going to do some research and look at these areas and see whether they are urban/suburban or rural areas.
DeleteA number of different factors can attribute to this. But I think it comes down to where people migrate and settle. If a fairly large community uses the word “bucket” then I can see the word spreading to nearby locations. It’s the more rural areas that may not be influenced by the commonly used version of the word. Being from the western part of Pennsylvania I remember growing up using the word “bucket”. Either helping my dad with the yard work or playing in the sandbox. It almost sounds wrong to say the word “pail”. I don’t think there is one rhyme or reason for this answer. In my opinion it has a lot to do with the migration of different people from various areas and the various dialects that are spoken.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely has a lot to do with migration, but like I said in my response to Nate, what is driving this migration? Why are there strictly "pail" areas nestled *inside* of dense "bucket" areas? Ya know, why do these areas attract "pail" speakers?
DeleteNice post, Nic! And you did a great job of moderating it. (Excellent commentary, too, guys!) I have always found your question a fascinating one, how people's speech is a trace for where they've come from, and whom they have interacted with along the way...
ReplyDelete