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Connections: Examining the “Rochester accent” and the evolution of language

What exactly is the Rochester accent? Can you spot it when you hear it? Do you think you have a Rochester accent?

A University of Rochester professor is studying the accent to further explain what it is and how it came to be. It all fits into a much broader conversation about language: how it evolves; how age, class, and social networks can foster linguistic changes; and how language can help us understand how we differ from one another.

This is a show for (and read this in your best Rochester accent) your aunt with the hat, your mom and her cat… and maybe you! Our guests:

  • Maya Abtahian, assistant professor of linguistics at the University of Rochester
  • Jane Gatewood, vice provost for global engagement at the University of Rochester

Megan Mack is the executive producer of "Connections with Evan Dawson" and live/televised engagement programming.