SOO????

[ndbprr]

Where did Soo come into being as a word? The indian spelling is Sioux. The Michigan city is Sault Ste. Marie. So what is the source for Soo?

[Penny Trains]

Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railroad

Becky

[RME]

ndbprr

The indian spelling is Sioux. The Michigan city is Sault Ste. Marie.

And if the Michigan city is pronounced in somewhat fractured French, the "Sault" (meaning something like 'Falls' or 'Rapids' in English) sounds like "Soo".  That's where I've always heard the nickname comes from.

[Deggesty]

ndbprr

Where did Soo come into being as a word? The indian spelling is Sioux. The Michigan city is Sault Ste. Marie. So what is the source for Soo?

 

The city is located at rapids on the Ste. Maries River (or Fleuve, if you prefer French). According to Wikipedia, the word means "rapids"--but my small French-English-French dictionary tells me that the French word for "rapids" is "rapide," and does not have a French word "Sault." It seems that the people who live on the east side of the river pronounce the word more like the way it looks, whereas those who live on the west side pronouce it "Soo"--perhaps in an attempt to anglicize the pronunciation; think of how the English have pronounced various French names such as Ypres ("Wypers," and not "Ee prai").

I doubt that there is any connection with the Sioux Indians--and I think that"Sioux" is more a French spelling of an Indian name, and not an Indian spelling.

I could go on about how the French butchered the spelling of native names, such as Kebec--I have the impression that if the English had gotten there first, we would have the province of Kebec, and not Quebec.

Six and a half years ago, I was driving in the area, and was glad to hear a radio announcer pronounce the name, so I learned that those on the west side said "Soo Saint Marie."

I admit that my harangue does not give any information as to why inhabitants of the United States pronounce it "Soo."

[wanswheel]

https://archive.org/stream/alongbowstringor00ralprich#page/n5/mode/2up

[Penny Trains]

Deggesty

those on the west side said "Soo Saint Marie."

And many say "salt saint mary". 

[Firelock76]

Anyway, it's certainly a lot easier to paint "Soo Line" on the side of a tender than it is to paint "Sault Ste. Marie Line."

[rcdrye]

Shorter spelling was even more important with the old "Soo Line" flag emblem.

[wjstix]

Back 100+ years ago, Soo passenger cars did have the full name spelled out, "Minneapolis St.Paul & Sault Ste. Marie".

BTW, not everyone may understand that there are two Sault Ste. Marie's, one in Michigan and one in Ontario. They're across the river from each other.