3 ms·

When feasible, spoken English favours double syllable combinations. Three is too many, one is too few for disambiguation in a lossy environment. Hence Jersey, L

When feasible, spoken English favours double syllable combinations. Three is too many, one is too few for disambiguation in a lossy environment. Hence Jersey, LA, San Fran, Philly, but not York. It’s not a hard rule, of course.

Trasmatta 2y ago
Ahh that makes a lot of sense, thank you! It does feel like it's more about the syllables than anything. > San Fran Or SF, if you want to avoid making the people that live there mad
- AnnikaL 2y ago
  My SF-born mother also often calls it "The City" (though this is 3 syllables).