The WVDP gathers information about language diversity and change from native West Virginians. We read up on the history and culture of any community we are studying, and we try to assess how that community has changed over the years.
From this book-learning, we move into the exciting part of our research, the interviews with people from the community. These interviews are not formal affairs, and resemble casual conversations. In these conversations, people from the communities tell us about what life was like when they were growing up, how the community has changed over the years, and the interesting bits of their daily lives that make up the rich traditions of West Virginia.
We are also advocates for West Virginia dialects and speakers who are treated unjustly because of their dialects. If you feel you have been treated unfairly because of your dialect, please contact us.