OK folks, try 20 years of military sevice and see where your vocabulary ends up!
It depends on where you had the closest prolonged contact( east coast,west coast or overseas) and with whom you were stationed with.
My wife,from central Chigago, still has her accent,but I donot hear it anymore.
I was raised in PA.,but use words from many parts of the U.S.A.
I loved this thread.
George
nanaimo73 How should I pronounce Père Marquette?
How should I pronounce Père Marquette?
It's somewhere between pair and pier. I tend toward pier, myself.
The name comes from an early French explorer in the region.
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
tree68 baberuth73There seems to be a rule that no one that speaks with a Southern accent will be employed as a so called TV journalist (news reader).I call it the "Jeff Foxworthy Effect." If you speak with a southern accent, you must be an uneducated rube. I once read an article about accents that pointed out this in one movie ("Fried Green Tomatoes?") the four protagonists (all women) spoke with different southern accents, although I don't recall what they were. There are actually some variations that are quite pleasant to hear, but others, well...
baberuth73There seems to be a rule that no one that speaks with a Southern accent will be employed as a so called TV journalist (news reader).
I once read an article about accents that pointed out this in one movie ("Fried Green Tomatoes?") the four protagonists (all women) spoke with different southern accents, although I don't recall what they were. There are actually some variations that are quite pleasant to hear, but others, well...
Tree, I think you hit the nail on the head. I've made a conscious effort not to lose my Southern accent (about as thick and magnolia-dripping as they come) despite living as far north as Maryland, and it is sometimes advantageous. Too many people from up north think anyone with a Southern accent has an IQ in the very low double digits, and aren't shy about letting that be known; a couple of them had quite nasty surprises when they needed something from me.
There are definitely different Southern accents. Tidewater Virginia is very distinctive, and I can pick out some North Carolina accents. There is a difference between SE Georgia, where I grew up, and SW Georgia (around Albany, or All-BENNY, as the natives pronounce it).
narig01 One last comment did anyone know that Arizonia has with there "Immigration" legislation they banned anyone who speaks english with a "HEAVY" accent from teaching? Thx IGN
One last comment did anyone know that Arizonia has with there "Immigration" legislation they banned anyone who speaks english with a "HEAVY" accent from teaching?
Thx IGN
If true, and I can't believe it is, there's big trouble...my German teacher in college had such a thick accent he often couldn't be understood....the idea of deporting that sweet young lady in the Portuegese/Brazilian bakery in West Norwalk who, as I was pointing to a tray full of cookies and asking what kind, responded with, "good cookie!" (she was right, but I'm still not sure what kind of cookie it was, some kind of nut)...take away Molley Goldberg, Michael Quill, Henry Kissenger, ..hell we probably shouldn't have allowed the Marques de Laffeyette nor Pulaski nor Pike into our midst. Nor most of our grandparents if not great grandparents! Ever listen to a conversation between a Downeaster, a Cajun, a WestVirginian Mountaineer, and a Texan at a New York City or Los Angeles deli? And why is one of PBS's most popular TV shows still the Lawrence Welk show rerererererer(to the 10th power)rerun? Subversive, anti American all! Yeah, lets get rid of all accents and all talk the way those who want to rule our souls want us to. Which is?
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narig01One last comment did anyone know that Arizonia has with there "Immigration" legislation they banned anyone who speaks english with a "HEAVY" accent from teaching? Thx IGN
Assuming without deciding that is true, I wonder if that would have excluded one of my favorite EE profs from oh so many years ago, who was far removed from Mississippi in years but not in accent, which was definitely very heavy...or the Aero prof from India who, I recalled, sounded just like Peter Sellers in The Party.
I do recall some nephews complaining about a couple of profs at Cal Tech whose accents were so thick that the class couldn't follow the lectures half the time, though I never ran into that extreme in my state school experiences. (Not to say that there weren't a few profs whose lectures in perfect English were still hard to follow.)
I have lived in various parts of this country. And I still laugh at "English" By way of contrast, I was born in New York City (lived in Manhattan & Brooklyn) moved to Berkeley, Ca at 14, lived there til 1990 and then moved to Georgia. Two years ago moved to South West Arkansas.
I drive a truck all over and people still have no idea where I'm from based on my accent. In addition I've worked for a bunch of Australians and Brits and picked up all sorts of bad habits grammatically.
garrBeing in the south, how do you think Martinez, GA just outside of Augusta is pronounced? Jay
Being in the south, how do you think Martinez, GA just outside of Augusta is pronounced?
Jay
Rgds IGN
FirefliteMy home state's capital, Trenton, is pronounced Trent'n (the o is silent),
Kinda like a local idiosycrasy here - leaving out "t's", as in "Clay-un" for Clayton.
More on Greenwich: in NJ it rhymes with "sandwich", but in Rhode Island, it's 'GREN-itch, like in CT. Of course it's also Grenitch Village in NYC.
My home state's capital, Trenton, is pronounced Trent'n (the o is silent), or if you're African-American, you can say Trent-en. Both are acceptable. Our state's largest city is Newark, pronounced Newerk, spoken as quickly as possible. It's one long sylable, like Charles. Meanwhile in Delaware it's New-ark. It used to be two words: New Ark. They will tell you this. I believe Newark, OH is the same way.
Worcester, MA is pronounced as it is in England, Wus-ter. In Pennsylvania its WOR-ces-ter. Gloucester City, NJ also follows the English, GLOSS-ter. The town of Lenape, PA, pronounced LEN-a-pee, is named after the Lenni Lenape (LEN-nee Le-NAH-pay) Indians.
And don't forget Boise, ID (BOY-cee), Versailles, KY (ver-SALES), Mexia, TX (ma-HI-ah), and Humble, TX (Umble, no H),
Of course, our Swiss friend Anatole Mallet (mal-LAY) developed the compound-articulated steam locomotive, generally called a MAL-let in the east and a MAL-ee out west.
Tom
you can talk all you want about u.s. accents but to get really confused try emigrating to another country as i did 20 years ago. it's taken me that long to learn to sound the 'u' in 'out'; americans think we're saying 'oot' instead of owt'.. and when i told the guys at the edmonton trolley club i was going to change trains at 'the pass, MB', they all burst out laughing; it's pronounced 'the paw', mixed english & french. -big duke
There's only one T in Toronto
The Butler St. Francois, Missouri. Saint Fran-sis, Miz-er-ah.
St. Francois, Missouri. Saint Fran-sis, Miz-er-ah.
Whereas St. Francois is near the south end of the eastern Missouri "Lead Belt," Bonne Terre is pretty close to the north end. Some folks pronounce the latter name "BAHN-TARE" (2-syllables) while I've heard other call it "Bah-nah-tare." (3-syllables). Go figure?
Didn't read all the posts but it seems all you guys overlooked one of really odd pronunciations I ever came across, that being Suisun City. Its actually pronounced Sa-soon (rhymes with bassoon). Who'd a ever thunk it?
blhanel nanaimo73 They are a long way from nuh-NYE-moe. LOL, here I've been pronouncing that "Nah-nah-i-mo"!
nanaimo73 They are a long way from nuh-NYE-moe.
They are a long way from nuh-NYE-moe.
LOL, here I've been pronouncing that "Nah-nah-i-mo"!
At least you don't live in western Indiana and use words like wichadijya (wich-uh-did-jua) and yonder, and yunt to (Yu-nt-, to)
The road to to success is always under construction. _____________________________________________________________________________ When the going gets tough, the tough use duct tape.
mudchickenKay-DEEZ
Kay-DEEZ
Thanks MC.
James
tree68We have some pronunciation headaches around here - both from the French and the native American place names - Chaumont (sha MOE) and Gananoque (gan an AH quay) are two often massacred by "furriners."
In the early stages of our relationship, Sue and I had a discussion of place names. I did pretty well with NY names, including "Schuyler" (which surprised her). She didn't get "Saguache," though. ;-)
And when I was in Vancouver, I was happy to find out that I was indeed pronouncing Dale's home correctly.
The only place I've ever been screwed up is the two states that I've called home. Only in Illinois would "Cairo" be KAY-row and only in Colorado would "Pueblo" be pea-EBB-low. The latter isn't very, very common, but I've heard it more than once.
-ChrisWest Chicago, ILChristopher May Fine Art Photography"In wisdom gathered over time I have found that every experience is a form of exploration." ~Ansel Adams
I live on Vallejo Drive. Vallejo is a common old California name pronounced "vah-YAY-ho" with the "V" barely voiced. Boy do Eastern contacts butcher it! Most amusing is "Valley Joe".
Jack
blue streak 1Greenough is pronounce green - o long O.
Greenwhich, CT is Grenitch and Greenwhich NY is Greenwitch. It is Am Herst NY but Amerst MA. The list of prounciations and variations is endless...like is it LYmah O or LEEma O? And do you know how many ways there are to pronounce NEWARK?
WSOR 3801 ChuckCobleigh While we're on the subject or off topic, can anybody explain "Missour-ee" versus "Missour-uh" which has puzzled me since my ill-spent youth? As I recalled, it changed diagonally from North-East (Hannibal) to South-West (Springfield), though now, I can't remember which way it changed across the state. My mom and stepdad moved there (Sedalia area). They pronounce it "Misery". The older relatives we had down in that state always said "Missour-uh".
ChuckCobleigh While we're on the subject or off topic, can anybody explain "Missour-ee" versus "Missour-uh" which has puzzled me since my ill-spent youth? As I recalled, it changed diagonally from North-East (Hannibal) to South-West (Springfield), though now, I can't remember which way it changed across the state.
While we're on the subject or off topic, can anybody explain "Missour-ee" versus "Missour-uh" which has puzzled me since my ill-spent youth? As I recalled, it changed diagonally from North-East (Hannibal) to South-West (Springfield), though now, I can't remember which way it changed across the state.
My mom and stepdad moved there (Sedalia area). They pronounce it "Misery".
The older relatives we had down in that state always said "Missour-uh".
Anyone who spent time in the Army would always refer to Fort Lost in the Woods, Misery. Otherwise known as Fort Leonard Wood.
Head on up to Sinai, S.D. That's sigh-NE-eye ( )
Thanks to Chris / CopCarSS for my avatar.
As I recall, Richard Steinheimer's photo essay on Cajon Pass in a 1970's issue of Trains magazine had the correct pronounciation, as well as a comment on the origin/ derivation of it based on the 'box canyon' nature of the terrain there. See -
Cajon Pass revisited Trains, September 1974 page 20 guide to Cajon Pass ( ATSF, CALIFORNIA, PASS, SP, "STEINHEIMER, RICHARD", UP, TRN )
- Paul North.
blue streak 1 Well I gave someone this problem and was not able to get answers . This comes from the town I now live. 1. Pronounce "Greenough St. 2. Now the hard one -- manhole. First one to get this will get a chauffeured railfan trip around Atlanta. 48 Hrs starts now.
Well I gave someone this problem and was not able to get answers . This comes from the town I now live.
1. Pronounce "Greenough St.
2. Now the hard one -- manhole. First one to get this will get a chauffeured railfan trip around Atlanta. 48 Hrs starts now.
Am disappointed no one guessed
samfp 1943 came close on the first. Greenough is pronounce green - o long O.
2. Manhole: well its a "man - hed" long e like Heddy Lamar the actress not head. I know don't ask me why. It is spelled correctly here.
Ca jun or Cahon: I went over the line some 66 years ago...before I was a year old...I'm told. So my only impression is from pictures I've seen. Defnitely you cannot say "cage in" in wide open territory like that! Cahon is more like it: pronouncing the word aloud and losing it in the wind.
OREGON? It's the only state which comes to mind that has - get this now - two and a half syllables. "ORE-uh+gun," where the "uh" smoothly rolls into the "gun," is how I've heard the Willamette Valley natives pronounce it.
WARSHINGTEN? Isn't that a mid-Atlantic states pronunciation?
MISSOUR-EE vs. MISSOUR-AH? The latter pronunciation, folks have told me, is found north of the Missouri River.
VIENNA? There's Vee-EN-nah, Austria and Vee-EN-nah Sausage; but the town in southern Illinois is pronounced VY-enna.
THOSE vs. THEM?
Yardmaster: "Where'd you put those cars?"
Switchman: "Huh?"
Yardmaster: "I said, 'Where did you put those cars?'"
Switchman: "What?"
Yardmaster: "Whered'ja put THEM cars?"
Switchman: "Oh, they're over in South Six."
Within some quarters of the railroad industry, proper grammatical usage is not always an effective means of communication - at least not orally.
chad thomas While were on the subject of pronounciation, Does anyone know the proper way to pronounce Cadiz (as in Cadiz, Ca. on the BNSF transcon)? Someone I know that lived there says it's like katy's, but I never heard that. hopefully someone here knows.
While were on the subject of pronounciation, Does anyone know the proper way to pronounce Cadiz (as in Cadiz, Ca. on the BNSF transcon)? Someone I know that lived there says it's like katy's, but I never heard that. hopefully someone here knows.
In San Bernardino County, California "KAY-tease" is accepted pronunciation.
For years I pronounced that famous stretch of southern California railroad "Tey-yah-COPie" instead of "tuh-HATCH-uh-pee." It wasn't until I lived in nearby Barstow, California, during the last half of 1971, that I finally learned the correct pronunciation of Tehachapi.
In the summer of 1973 I met an old head railroad station agent who worked in the "Lead Belt" region of east central Missouri. "PEW (slight pause) RHINE-uh" is what he called those famous grain processors (Ralston-Purina) headquatered at "Checkerboard Square," Saint Louis. To this day, except in the company of business colleagues, I prefer his corrupted pronunciation.
Between the Twin Cities and Aberdeen, SD, The Milwaukee Road had a crew change point at Montevideo, Minn. For years I pronounced it like the capital city of Uruguay, "Mon-tee-fih-DEO-oh." Wrong oh! In the Land of 10,000 Lakes it's pronounced "Mon-tee-vid-E-oh," like "Monty Video."
The old-head Rio Grande guys I know call the first crew-change point south of Denver "PEE-eb-low" instead of "Poo-EB-low." When they refer to "GEE-JAY" (Grand Junction, Colo.) and "PEE-burg" (Phippsburg, Colo.) at least I know what they mean and where those places are on a map.
And last but not least, Chicago has its "MON-trose Avahnoo" but the end of the Rio Grande Railroad branchline is at "Mont Rose," Colorado.
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