Today we’ll revisit our conversation from February 2023 with BYU Linguistics Professor David Eddington, talking about his book Utahisms: Unique Expressions, Inventions, Place Names & More.
The Beehive State's iconic vistas are singular and distinctive. So too are its colloquialisms, peculiar place names and landmark firsts. Confusion from local dialect ultimately thwarted a would-be robber in Salt Lake City. The proper pronunciation of Tooele might surprise visitors, while residents still debate its origins. And, phrases once thought to be solely Utahn often prove otherwise. Examining everything from phonetics to history, David Eddington reveals the roots of what is truly, uniquely Utah.
David Ellingson Eddington is a native Utahn. He was born in Murray, raised in Holladay and presently resides with the love of his life in Woodland Hills in a log home at six thousand feet where they are often visited by their fourteen grandchildren. He is a professor of linguistics at Brigham Young University, where, in addition to Utah dialect, he specializes in the Spanish language.
