Dictionary of Southern Appalachian English

Michael B. Montgomery (1950–2019) was Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English and Linguistics at the University of South Carolina.
For more information about Michael B. Montgomery, visit the Author Page.

Jennifer K. N. Heinmiller is a data annotator, translator, and editor in Asheville, North Carolina.
For more information about Jennifer K. N. Heinmiller, visit the Author Page.

"As near a comprehensive dictionary of southern folk idioms and phrases as possible. . . . A realistic example of the speaking habits and style of the people of the eastern mountains in America. It's rich and fascinating."—"Doc" Kirby, WTBF-FM

"Much more than a dictionary, Montgomery and Heinmiller's volume illuminates many aspects of Appalachian life and society. Its voluminous, informative, and often-lengthy quotations present the entries in their linguistic and historical context. Those working in Appalachian studies will find it an important source."—Choice

“Dictionary of Southern Appalachian English is a landmark contribution to the lexicographical and linguistic study and the description of Southern Appalachian English. This is a one-of-a-kind dictionary in terms of regional lexicography. A welcome and much-needed update to a classic.”—Walt Wolfram, author of Talkin’ Tarheel

"What a joy it is to discover a single resource that packages so much about such a broad and diverse region. The new Dictionary of Southern Appalachian English offers scholars boundless opportunities to study Appalachia through the evolution of its language, and it offers curiosity seekers boundless opportunities to re-see a region through the purest form of its cultural expression."—Wiley Cash, author of When Ghosts Come Home

"In this meticulously researched expansion of Michael Montgomery and Joseph Hall’s 2004 Dictionary of Smoky Mountain English, Montgomery and Jennifer K. N. Heinmiller invite readers on an epic journey through a vernacular specific to the Mountain South. Drawing from a myriad of sources that range from Civil War letters to literary texts and difficult-to-find diary entries housed only in local archives, this encyclopedic volume will delight those seeking explanations for some of the region’s most defining linguistic markers. Montgomery and Heinmiller provide a lasting analysis and tribute to the voices of the past and present. In doing so, they avoid the trite clichés that plague descriptions of the region, instead relying on careful, thorough research to present the fascinating history of regional speech patterns that linger today."—Erica Abrams Locklear, UNC Asheville

“Dictionary of Southern Appalachian English" is an extremely rich resource that elucidates both the language and the traditional culture of this iconic region. Illustrative citations—from lively, tender, or nostalgic reminiscences, to quotidian or official accounts—illuminate the lives of people in a unique landscape over more than three centuries of history."—Joan Houston Hall, chief editor emerita, Dictionary of American Regional English.