How do Washingtonians talk? And what do Washingtonians talk about?
Washington, DC is a diverse city with a unique history, and this history is reflected in today’s DC, in work and leisure, travel and tourism, local food culture, politics, and LANGUAGE. How people speak and what they talk about reflect and shape different cultures and world views. Through language use, we understand the world and the events, social movements, communities, and individuals that have made Washington, DC what it is.
Despite DC’s rich cultural and linguistic diversity, it has not received much attention in sociolinguist research in the past. Thus began the inspiration for this project. Several things are of interest to us as linguists. We want to know:
- How have the languages and dialects spoken in Washington, DC and the surrounding area changed over time, and how are they changing now?
- Is there a “DC accent”? What is it like? Is there more than one?
- What do Washingtonians talk about? What historical events and contemporary concerns are at the forefront of Washingtonians’ minds?
- How has the city changed, and what kinds of stories do Washingtonians tell about the changing city?
In researching these topics, we use qualitative and quantitative research methods including sociolinguistic interviews, surveys, and participant observation.
This project was created by a team of faculty, graduate students, undergraduates and alumni in the Linguistics Department at Georgetown University. Besides an ever-expanding number of students who interview Washingtonians as part of their training in sociolinguistic fieldwork, we have a core team of researchers working on Washington, DC language. The project is headed by Natalie Schilling, Ph.D., Professor of Linguistics at Georgetown University.
We are always in search of more Washingtonians to interview, and would love for you to get in touch!
Email Us. or leave a comment below!
The Language and Communication in Washington, DC project is sponsored by the Department of Linguistics at Georgetown University and the Humanities Council of Washington, DC.
If you would like to help sponsor our project, please let us know!
Website Sponsored by the Humanities Council of Washington, DC
