© 2024 WUGA | University of Georgia
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Athens News Matters: Sounds of the South

The way we speak, the words we use, even the accent we have—and sometimes perhaps try to cover, are all intrinsic parts of who we are as individuals.

For Black Americans, African American Vernacular English, can be seen the backbone of a thriving culture, whose complexity and richness goes often unrecognized.

There are commonalities between African American Vernacular English and the typical Southern accent, but those intersections are perhaps not as pervasive as many think, and navigating those intersections can be fraught with code-switching and linguistic appropriation.

Megan Wahn produced this program. Martin Matheny is Executive Producer for WUGA. Devon Zwald and Sarah Train were assistant producers and editors. Alexia Ridley is the co-anchor of Athens News Matters.

Alexia Ridley joined WUGA as Television and Radio News Anchor and Reporter in 2013. When WUGA TV concluded operations, she became the primary Reporter for WUGA Radio. Alexia came to Athens from Macon where she served as the News Director and show host for WGXA TV. She's a career journalist and Savannah native hailing from the University of Michigan. However, Alexia considers herself an honorary UGA DAWG!
Related Content