Illinois Nine - Text
This Illinois speaker is a woman aged 52 was born in Michigan and lived there until she was twelve. She has lived in Illinois for 38 years. She attended two years of college and works as a secretary. She displays the head resonance that is prevalent in many speakers from Illinois but her careful speech is not typical and is personal to this speaker.
In this sample, which she clearly rehearsed, the speaker describes the seasons in Central Illinois. Following is a short, off the cuff remark about what happens when the tornado siren is sounded.
TRANSCRIPTION
I like living in Urbana-Champaign because here in east central Illinois, we experience all four seasons- spring, summer, autumn and winter. Right now it's April, so it's spring. It's still cold at night; in the 30s and 40s but in the daytime it's about fifty or sixty degrees and that seems warm when the sun is shining. The daffodils are all shades of yellow, and there are pink hyacinths and tulip buds ready to pop. In spring one of the most important things that happens is that the farmers till the soil in their fields- acres of dark black soil, some of the richest in the world. Then they plant the crops. I love to take walks in the country and watch for the first green sprigs to peek out of the dark earth. Then later, the rows become evident, as straight and even as if the distance between them was measured by hand. The one hundred degree heat of July is a hot and humid reality that summer is here to stay. It's like a huge greenhouse with stalks of corn growing eight to ten feet tall and the soybean fields are lush, thick blankets of green. We wish for those cool nights of spring that are long gone and look forward to autumn.
Fall is my favorite season, with its bright orange pumpkins and bright leaves on the trees, the promise of cooler days and fresher air. The farmers harvest the crops and there is much outside activity. Winter is sometimes harsh, with its snow and sleet and freezing rain. Ice storms devastate, leaving cities without power for days. Christmas is a bright spot in winter. Then the bleak and cold of January and February arrives, unwanted. This is the time of year that when we have a sunny day, I love to sit in my living room in the sun and soak up as much as I can because I know how cold it will be later that night.
This recording was made 4/04/2004 by Jill Walmsley Zager. Running time, 00:03:39.