How to Grow a Dialect Poet in Thirty-Three Years : Linquistic Influences on Paul Laurence Dunbar

Abstract

Paul Laurence Dunbar was one of the first African American writers to rise to prominence in American popular culture and literature. While he wrote in many voices, Dunbar's work is distinctive for its portrayal of African American and Southern dialects. Such pieces have been at the center of much critical work on Dunbar, as well as a source of controversy, raising questions about everything from the authenticity of this transcription to his fidelity to speech varieties and engagement with the study of language. This project investigates the language influences on Dunbar, enlarges the scope of the evidence in frequently-cited sources, and establishes a place for the reintroduction of obscure materials into the conversation.