LINGUISTIC LESSONS 



Although Muzel Bryant isn't one to 

 chat the day away, she has made valuable 

 contributions to linguistic research, says 

 Walt Wolfram, a sociolinguistic researcher 

 from North Carolina State University. 



"Her speech has been very impor- 

 tant in terms of our understanding of the 

 development of African American English," 

 he says. 



An expert in African American dia- 

 lects, Wolfram began studying the speech 

 of Outer Banks residents nearly a decade 

 ago. He soon saw a unique opportunity 

 in Muzel Bryant, Ocracoke's sole African 

 American resident. 



Because Muzel rarely had con- 

 tact with mainland African Americans, 

 Wolfram wondered if her speech matched 

 other Ocracokers, who, after centuries 

 of physical and cultural separation from 

 the mainland, had developed a distinct 

 dialect known as the "Ocracoke Brogue." 

 He discovered that her speech contained 

 some elements of the local dialect, but it 

 also reflected features unique to African 

 American Vernacular English. 



'To be perfectly honest," he reports, 

 "this is not what we expected." A person's 

 speech often assimilates to neighboring 

 groups in certain syntactical ways, he 

 explains, but Muzel's speech did not match 

 this pattern. 



Wolfram's interest in Muzel eventu- 

 ally went beyond dialect, however, as he 

 saw her extraordinary connection to Outer 

 Banks history. Earlier this year, one of Wol- 

 fram's graduate students, Andrew Grimes, 

 began filming a documentary about Mu- 

 zel. Grimes directed and produced the film, 

 which chronicles her life through stories 

 from friends and family, and features her 

 100th birthday celebration. 



"We're doing this video as a preserva- 

 tion memento," says Wolfram. "We're 

 interested in celebrating her life." 



To order a video, visit www.talkingnc. 

 com to fill out an order form. Cost is $12, 

 plus $2 shipping and handling. 



ABOVE: Kenny Ballance and Muzel Bryant. "When she was in 

 her 80s, she was taking care of 90-year-olds, " he says. 



"It's been a struggle, ain't it Mil'?" he asks 

 her playfully. "You having to look after me?" 

 She chuckles and nods in agreement. 



Muzel possesses a certain quiet politeness 

 that seems rooted in a different era. She may 

 ask a new visitor where he or she is from, or if 

 they like the island. But that's about it. She only 

 offers her thoughts when asked. 



Even those who know her well won't 

 catch her complaining about aching hips, stiff 

 joints or the music kids listen to today. She 

 exudes a calm happiness, one that accepts her 

 age but refuses to let go of her character and 

 self-sufficiency. 



"You would never know she's about 

 the house," says Ballance. "She's no problem 

 at all." 



Even as floodwaters seeped through their 

 floorboards during Hurricane Alex in August, 

 Muzel looked after herself when Ballance, who 

 works for the National Park Service, got caught 

 at work. "I couldn't get home — the tide came 

 in so quick, and she was here through the whole 

 hurricane by herself," he says. 



ANEWGENTURY 



As Muzel's 101st birthday 

 approaches this March, she is in 

 better shape than many people 

 decades younger. Her body is 

 healthy her mind is sound, and her 

 cholesterol is lower than Ballance's 

 — a fact he indignantly admits. 



Her daily routine isn't much 

 different than most senior citizens. 

 After a bowl of Rice Krispies and 

 a glass of orange juice, she enjoys 

 reading the morning paper. "She 

 looks to see if she or I are in the 

 obituary column," Ballance quips. 

 "If we're not, then the day goes 

 on!" 



When Muzel sits in her 

 recliner or out on the porch, 

 neighbors and friends offer 

 greetings as they walk down the 

 street. She sits up slightly and 

 squints through her large, round 

 glasses. Once she recognizes the 

 passerby, she smiles and raises her 

 small hand in a delicate wave. 

 During the rest of the day she likes 

 to read, watch television and take naps, 

 according to Ballance. And on Saturday 

 nights, Muzel tunes into "The Lawrence Welk 

 Show," courtesy of cable television. "Seven 

 o'clock, like clockwork." says Ballance. 

 "Don't miss it." 



But the secret to Muzel's long life 

 probably has more to do with her flexible 

 spirit and sense of fun than her daily routine. 



Next to her armchair sits a small shelf 

 with dozens of brightly colored stuffed 

 animals. "I have a lot of toys," Muzel says, 

 motioning to her collection on the shelf. Near 

 her feet sits Babe, a stout, brindle bulldog 

 that Muzel says keeps her company during 

 the day. 



And Muzel hasn't forgotten how to have 

 a good time: After her 100th birthday party, 

 she celebrated with the crowd at the famous 

 Howard's Pub until almost 2 a.m. 



She simply outlasts people, notes 

 Ballance. 



"She's outlived everyone on O'cock!" n 



COASTWATCH 23 



