DARE, Literature, and Enregistered Regional Identities

This article examines the significance of literary quotations in the Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE). DARE employs a diverse range of sources, including literary works, to illustrate the richness and complexity of American regional English. Although concerns exist regarding the authenticity of literary dialect, the author argues that such quotations offer valuable insights into extended discourse, cultural context, and language attitudes. The inclusion of literary quotations in DARE is guided by the author’s “personal sympathy” for regional speech and the reader’s “unusual interest” in its representation. By featuring quotations from regionally iconic authors, DARE strengthens the connection between regional lexis, culture, and identity. Through this approach to lexicography, DARE functions as an instrument of dialect enregisterment, prompting readers to engage more deeply with regional language varieties and cultivate a heightened awareness of their own linguistic identities.