The Peter White Public Library would like to invite the public to attend a talk entitled, “Yooperese:  A Story of Change” by Wil Rankinen, Assistant Professor, Communication Sciences & Disorders, Grand Valley State University.  The talk will be Monday, July 24, at 7:00pm in the library’s Shiras Room.

For those who have ever wondered why Yoopers sound the way they do, this talk is for you.  Some say Yoopers sound Canadian, while others point to a more immigrant-heritage justification as to why English is uniquely spoken in the area.  It is true that Michigan’s Marquette County, like other western regions of the Upper Peninsula, has been culturally and linguistically influenced by Finnish, Italian and other ethnic-heritage groups over the past century.  However, the days of hearing Finnish or Italian in certain mining town are all but past with English being predominately spoken as the only language among the youth.  Nevertheless, immigrant-heritage influences still linger and continue to shape how English is spoken in the region.  Prof. Rankinen’s talk will highlight some unique language features in Michigan’s UP English and potential influences on language from within and outside the community.

There is no admission charge to attend.  For more information, visit www.pwpl.info or call 226-4318.