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And in Missouri we have New Madrid ("New MAD-rid") and Versailles ("Ver-SAILS") among several other similar re-pronunciations. Many locals pronounce Johnny Car
by jccc 9y ago
And in Missouri we have New Madrid ("New MAD-rid") and Versailles ("Ver-SAILS") among several other similar re-pronunciations.
Many locals pronounce Johnny Carson's teenage hometown Norfolk, Nebraska as "Norfork."
I don't think it comes from ignorance though (and I'm not saying you're saying it does) but instead just a way of taking local ownership.
- kyleblarson 9y agoMy grandfather in Kentucky pronounced Missouri 'Mizurah'.
- jccc 9y agoI lived in the middle of Missouri from 1994 through 2014 and never once heard a voice say Missour-ah that wasn't coming from a candidate for office on TV. (To be fair, there might have been some people in rural parts of the state who did talk like that. But usually it's coming from people who probably shouldn't.)
- libertyEQ 9y agoThat's how The Outlaw Josie Wales pronounces it when he gives the red-legs chasing him, "a Missurah boat ride."
- jessaustin 9y agoThe authentic pronunciation is more of a short "i" than a short "a". FYI, linguistic prescriptivism sucks.
- jccc 9y agoI didn't say that people should pronounce Missouri only as "Missour-ee" and that other pronunciations are incorrect. I offered my observation (intended with good humor) that it's not really true that Missourians by and large say "Missour-ah" -- or "Missour-ih" if you like -- but rather it's pretty much only politicians trying hard to sound folksy, and maybe a few older people in the most rural parts.
- greedo 9y agoSinai South Dakota is pronounced "Sign Yi."
- ChristianGeek 9y agoCalifornia is rife with towns having mispronounced Spanish names.