Research Projects: COD Survey: Call for Subjects

The Central Ohio Dialect Survey investigates language differences and similarities among residents of Central Ohio, particularly in the Columbus area. Some of the factors that can affect the way people speak are the neighborhood they live in, their age, sex, ethnicity, socio-economic background, and the groups of people they spend time with. One of the goals of this study is to enrich our understanding of how people use language to forge local and regional identities. For instance, you probably speak differently from your parents and from people who live in Dayton or Cleveland. The study also aims to compare the Central Ohio dialect to dialects spoken in other parts of Ohio and other parts of the country, such as Southern American English, New York speech, etc., so that all of these ways of speaking can be more deeply understood and appreciated.

As we continue to administer the survey, we are hoping to talk to additional informants. Specifically, we are hoping to find Central Ohio residents over the age of 18 who have either lived in Columbus or its surrounding areas all of their lives, or who moved to Central Ohio before the age of 8. These are the ideal informants we are seeking, but anyone who moved to the Central Ohio area by the age of 12 is also suitable to participate. The interview typically takes about 1 hour, and you will be paid $10.00 for participating. Interviews are tape recorded; however, all personal information given during the course of the survey is kept confidential.

If you would like to participate, please do not hesitate to contact David Durian at either the phone number or the email address given below.

Thank you for your help!

David Durian

Researcher, the Central Ohio Dialect Survey ddurian@ling.ohio-state.edu
Phone: 614-329-0381