Tennessee Lawmakers Pushing Resolution for Appalachian Dialect

The controversy between saying Appalachian and app-uh-lay-chun has made its way to the Tennessee State Senate.

Lawmakers in the Volunteer State are proposing a resolution for the creation of a manual to educate and celebrate Appalachian dialect.

The resolution being pushed by Senator Steve Southerland of Morristown says Appalachian dialect is often disparaged and misunderstood by society. This resolution counters that this dialect is legitimate and should be respected like other American English dialects.

This resolution also pushes to have the dialect covered in the Tennessee Blue Book and published by the secretary of state’s office every two years.