Speaking from the Heartland

This volume rigorously examines the vowel system of Kansas City, a large metropolitan area in the center of the United States. Results reveal a series of recent innovations that challenge Kansas City’s characterization as a Midland dialect city. The volume also challenges explanations that have been offered for sound changes that are active in many American dialects. As such, it updates knowledge about one speech community, but also contributes more generally to studies in the phonetics and phonology of American Englishes.