Kansas Dialect Survey

Department of Linguistics

The University of Kansas

May 13, 2002

Please help us collect information about the varieties of English spoken by web users. If you are over the age of eighteen, fill in the information below about the way you say things yourself. There are no right answers to this survey so do not worry about producing an odd result. Leave the question blank if you can't decide on a response. Try saying the words or sentences out loud before responding. When you are finished, click the "send form" button to see how your dialect compares with that of other respondents.

In each category, click the button that best describes you or your preferences.
Your gender:
Male
Female
 Your age:
18 to 22
23 to 29
30 to 39
40 to 49
50 and above
 Where did you live between 10 and 12?
Town/City

State
 How long did you live there?
1 to 3 years
4 to 6 years
7 or more years

Pronunciation
Does the word "him" rhyme with gem slim both
Does the word "root" rhyme with suit soot both
Does "cot" rhyme with bought not both
Does "bury" rhyme with berry furry both
Is the oo in "roof" the same as the oo in moon hook both
Does the word "creek" rhyme with lick leak both
Does the word "greasy" rhyme with fleecy easy both
Does the first vowel in "measure" rhyme with may mess both
Is the o in "progress" the same as the o in go got both
Are "coral" and "choral" pronounced the same? Yes No Can't decide
Does the word "fire" rhyme with "far"? Yes No Can't decide

Vocabulary
A large open metal container for water is a bucket pail both
To carry groceries, you put them in a bag sack poke
Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, and Seven-Up are soda pop coke
On summer nights you can catch fireflies fire bugs lightning bugs
When talking to a group of friends, you call them you guys you all y'all
It's now a quarter of 5 a quarter to 5 a quarter till 5
Do you call an indoor water valve a tap spigot faucet
Do you call an outdoor water valve a tap spigot faucet
Do you go behind the house in back of the house back of the house
To prepare an ear of corn for dinner you husk it shuck it both
A long sandwich is a submarine hoagie grinder

Syntax

Do you feel the following sentences: a. sound natural enough to use in casual conversation, b. are something that some people would say but you would not, or c. are something that only a nonnative speaker would say?
The dog is falled asleep. natural some nonnative
Everyone opened their books. natural some nonnative
My shirt needs cleaned. natural some nonnative
Ever since he lost his job, he be sleepin' all day long. natural some nonnative
You shouldn't oughta put salt in your coffee. natural some nonnative
You usually go to the one you want, but me never. natural some nonnative
Me and Sally played all afternoon. natural some nonnative
There's nobody can beat her at telling stories. natural some nonnative
Them tomato plants won't live. natural some nonnative
So don't I. natural some nonnative
The book was laying on the floor. natural some nonnative
My book is different to yours. natural some nonnative
If he was here, things would be better. natural some nonnative
I'm, like, glad to be here. natural some nonnative
Come over here once. natural some nonnative

You're done! Thanks.
Completion and return of this survey indicates that you are over the age of eighteen and a willing participant in this project.