“Yooperese” learning about identity and language

MARQUETTE — The Peter White Public Library held an event today where a Grand Valley State University assistant professor, Wil Rankinen, talked about Yooper identity and language.

The event called “Yooperese” presented a study of the Upper Peninsula’s language and its unique features within the English language. The discussion dives into the history of immigration into the U.P.

They also looked at different cultures that people had brought to the region which influenced the English language overtime. Rankinen has been researching this for 12 years he is now looking at other towns throughout the U.P. such as Sault Ste. Marie and Ironwood.

“These are areas that we haven’t focused as much time and energy on from a scientific perspective,” said, Grand Valley State University assistant professor, Wil Rankinen. “Looking at the language and the cultural practices and how that ties into the larger notion of what it means to be a Yooper or from the U.P. So that’s what these talks are about and I encourage anybody that is interested in language or identity please come out and just come for a discussion.”

The next two presentations will be hosted in Sault Ste. Marie and Ironwood this summer.