Ozark Heritage Lecture Series: Brooks Blevins Presentation – “HOW TO TALK OZARK IN SEVEN SIMPLE STEPS”

Join us for a presentation by Missouri Humanities speaker, Brooks Blevins, during our Ozark Heritage Exhibit!

This lighthearted presentation explores early ethnic and cultural influences on the Ozarks through the lens of dialect and accent. It dismisses the old notion of Elizabethan dialect in the Ozarks and instead looks at words, phrases, and speech patterns that were once common in vernacular Ozark (and usually Appalachian) language, tracing their origins to European or colonial American roots.

The presentation invites frequent audience participation and includes a built-in “Talking Ozark” quiz. Natives or longtime residents of the Ozarks will enjoy revisiting styles and words that have probably gone unused for decades, and others will gain an appreciation for cultural diffusion and regional distinctiveness in Missouri—as well as the forces that constantly chip away at that distinctiveness. 

Come enjoy “How To Tal Ozark In Seven Simple Steps” at the Harlin Museum on June 3rd at 3 pm.