Robert MacNeil’s journey begins in Maine and winds around to Detroit after stops in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Ohio, and South Carolina.

Robert MacNeil heads into the Deep South for a look at Appalachian and “hillbilly”, shaped by the Scots-Irish English of early frontier settlers like Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett. North Carolina, Louisiana, and Texas.

Now on the left coast, the series spotlights "Spanglish"; Ebonics; surfer- and skater-speak; a discussion about the impact of Hollywood on our language; and thoughtful questions about the potential societal impact of voice-activated computers.