Continuing Research on Regional English

Air Date:
Heard On The Larry Meiller Show

Words and language are fascinating. Larry Meiller finds out about the new round of fieldwork that the Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) in order to track the changes in American English since the original DARE research was done in the 1960s.

Featured in this Show

  • 4 Fun Regional Phrases In The Spirit Of The Summer Season

    Visit different regions of the country, and you’re bound to discover very distinct and interesting regional differences in how people describe and explain the world around them.

    In the spirit of the season, here are four fun regional phrases related to summer, as shared by Joan Hall, editor of the Dictionary of American Regional English.

    Summer salmon: Another name for rainbow trout. According to the dictionary, there are other regional names for the species, including “blueback trout,” “kamloops trout,” and “hardhead.”

    Summer kitchen: According to Hall, this means “a small out-building, away from the house, where you could do the cooking without getting the rest of the house all heated up.” The phrase is used mostly in northern states, though not in the Northwest. (See this map and list for specific on the region’s boundaries.)

    Summer sores: This refers to skin conditions, like impetigo, that children are likely to pick up in the warm months. Used in the south midland area of the country. In other regions, this would also be referred to as “dew poison,” or “ground itch.”

    Summer complaint: According to Hall, this phrase has two meanings. The first refers to an upset stomach, “because a kid ate too much fruit, or maybe the potato salad was out in the sun too long.”

    The second definition refers to a summer tourist – “especially an annoying one.” Maine residents also call those seasonal visitors “Summercaters,” and in New England in general, they are referred to as “summer people.”

    Editor’s Note: The staff of DARE is undertaking a new round of research to update the dictionary. To find out if you live in one of the target communities, and to participate, visit the online survey.The deadline to participate in this phase of the research is Sept. 30.

Episode Credits

  • Larry Meiller Host
  • Judith Siers-Poisson Producer
  • Joan Houston Hall Guest

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