Do Midwesterners speak without an accent? Are e-mail and messaging ruining American English? Are mass media homogenizing regional dialects? Why is Buffy the Vampire Slayer linguistically significant?

The short answers are no, probably not, no, and because of its great slang. For the long answers, check out the Web site for Do You Speak American? This three-part television series, featuring reporting by Robert MacNeil, debuted on public television a couple of years ago. Its Web site is a great resource for information about the history, dynamics, and future of American English.

WTIU viewers can see the first part of Do You Speak American? on Friday, August 11, at 9 p.m. The other parts will air on subsequent Fridays. You can also order the series on DVD or video, or you can buy the book.

Do you agree or disagree with what Do You Speak American? has to say? Do you think American English is in decline, or are we merely expressing ourselves in new, informal ways? What do you love or despise about our language? Submit a comment and let us know. Thx! TTFN