STAFFORD — Stafford County Museum will host “You Say Tomato, I Say Tomahto: Evolution of Language in Kansas,” a presentation and discussion by Mary Kohn. It will be Sunday, May 11, at 1:30 p.m..100 N. Main in Stafford. The program is made possible by Humanities Kansas. It is free and open to the public.

For more information about “You Say Tomato, I Say Tomahto: Evolution of Language in Kansas,” contact Stafford Co. Museum, 620-234-5664, or email schgs1976@gmail.com.

We’ve all heard that newscasters are trained to speak with a Midwest accent – the so-called “accent from nowhere.” In fact, language reflects people, history, and community. It is intimately tied to our immigrant past, a foundation that, surprisingly, is always changing. This talk will examine the ways language has changed in Kansas over the past hundred years through the examination of archival and contemporary oral history.

Mary Kohn is an associate professor of English and the director of the Chapman Center for Rural Studies at Kansas State University.

“You Say Tomato, I Say Tomahto: Evolution of Language in Kansas” is part of Humanities Kansas’s Speakers Bureau, featuring humanities-based presentations designed to share stories that inspire, spark conversations that inform, and generate insights that strengthen civic engagement.

Humanities Kansas is an independent nonprofit leading a movement of ideas to empower the people of Kansas to strengthen their communities and our democracy. Since 1972, our pioneering programming, grants, and partnerships have documented and shared stories to spark conversations and generate insights. Together with our partners and supporters, we inspire all Kansans to draw on history, literature, ethics, and culture to enrich their lives and serve the communities and state we all proudly call home. Visit humanitieskansas.org.