The West Virginia Dialect Project was created in order to learn about language variation and foster understanding and appreciation of the speech of West Virginians of all demographics. Founded in 1998, the WVDP is headed by Dr. Kirk Hazen, an award winning faculty mentor and the English department’s resident linguist. Supported by research grants, the WVDP has worked to study English in West Virginia and Appalachia, an effort which has led to many academic articles, professional presentations, and public outreach programs. An important part of our mission is to teach about dialect diversity in the Mountain State. Through coordination with schools, community groups, health service organizations, and legal counsel, members of the WVDP have educated diverse audiences about how the language of West Virginia works.
If you would like to coordinate or collaborate with the WVDP, or if you have any materials that you would like to share, please contact Dr. Hazen at Kirk.Hazen@mail.wvu.edu.