CSD Collaborates with Theatre Arts for “My Fair Lady”

The Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders was proud to partner with the Department of Theatre Arts for the November production of My Fair Lady at UND’s Burtness Theater. The themes of the musical—identity, communication, and the power of language—align closely with the work in CSD, making this a natural and meaningful collaboration.

Graduate students hosted an informational display for audience members, highlighting the role of speech-language pathologists and the importance of distinguishing difference from disorder when it comes to dialects and linguistic diversity. One family who visited the display sparked a lively and memorable conversation. After learning that dialectal differences reflect a person’s geographic background, culture, or linguistic community (not a need for speech services) the father laughed and said, “Ohhhh, so you’re talking about those ‘o’ sounds that we drag out around here!” The family went on to share favorite regional expressions like “Uffda,” and his wife, originally from Alabama, demonstrated how her southern accent has naturally faded after years in North Dakota. It was a perfect illustration of the beauty of linguistic diversity and how speech patterns shift throughout a lifetime. 

Just as Eliza Doolittle’s journey showcases how communication shapes identity and connection, this collaboration allowed CSD students to engage the community in conversations about speech, language, and the rich tapestry of human expression. We are grateful to Theater Arts for the opportunity to bridge art and science, and to celebrate what makes each voice unique.