Unique local pronunciations for place names

[huskeroadgeek]

The fact is, I think, that a great number of these local pronunciations are actually INCORRECT pronunciations that came into popularity due to local accents and passed time. If you pronounce Prescott, AZ as "Press-kit", you are a dumbass...that is not a proper English pronunciation. That "local" pronunciation probably just came into existence as locals saying the name too fast.

I see the point and I agree to a certain extent-but then again, who decides what the "correct" pronunciation of a place name is? Some local pronunciations are just based on local accents and actual mispronunciations but some, especially those named after people are actually the way those people pronounced their names. I admit the mispronunciations of foreign words especially can be annoying, but if that's how people pronounce the name of their hometown, who am I to tell them they are wrong? If I am visiting a place, my number 1 objective is to know that place better and pronunciations of place names, even if they are a bit strange and don't follow English pronunciation rules, are part of just knowing that area better.

[Scott5114]

If they're going to change the pronunciation, why aren't they changing the spelling too? Forcing someone to have to remember two separate forms of your placename, the spelling and the pronunciation, is pretty selfish.

[TheStranger]

If they're going to change the pronunciation, why aren't they changing the spelling too? Forcing someone to have to remember two separate forms of your placename, the spelling and the pronunciation, is pretty selfish.

The target audience isn't necessarily "out of towners," but the people who live and work in the nearby area; thus, while "Ver-Sayles" in Kentucky and "Ver-sighs" in France represent two very divergent pronunciations of the same-spelled locale, those living in both areas and around each town have grown accustomed to the way the placename is said over time.

How many people would see Houston Street in Manhattan and pronounce it correctly as "How-stun" instead of the seemingly-obvious "Hugh-ston"?  The fact that the New York road refers to a completely different person from the Texas city isn't readily apparent to most folks, but that differentiation is most important for those who encounter one or the other on a regular basis.

[Scott5114]

That street is actually named after a guy who spelled his last name "Houstoun".

[usends]

The fact is, I think, that a great number of these local pronunciations are actually INCORRECT pronunciations that came into popularity due to local accents and passed time.

True, but...

If you pronounce Prescott, AZ as "Press-kit", you are a dumbass...that is not a proper English pronunciation. That "local" pronunciation probably just came into existence as locals saying the name too fast.

...really?  Somebody from Joisey claims to pronounce things "properly"?  Can you see the irony?  If you want to go to Arizona and come across as a clueless tourist, go ahead and say "Press-cott".   Personally, I prefer to pronounce things the way the locals do.

[agentsteel53]

I think the only one that pronounces English correctly is the King of England.  Since none of us are him (as far as I know), all our town names are wrong!

[yanksfan6129]

The fact is, I think, that a great number of these local pronunciations are actually INCORRECT pronunciations that came into popularity due to local accents and passed time.

True, but...

If you pronounce Prescott, AZ as "Press-kit", you are a dumbass...that is not a proper English pronunciation. That "local" pronunciation probably just came into existence as locals saying the name too fast.

...really?  Somebody from Joisey claims to pronounce things "properly"?  Can you see the irony?  If you want to go to Arizona and come across as a clueless tourist, go ahead and say "Press-cott".   Personally, I prefer to pronounce things the way the locals do.

Nobody says Joisey.
And, for the record, I'm told that my voice/accent is a very typical, sort of midland, accent...the kind one hears from TV anchors.

As for pronouncing things the way the locals do, you missed the point. The point is, the "local" pronunciation could be incorrect English. As I said in my first post, the reason that particular pronunciation came into being may be because of local shorthand or something...that doesn't make the local shorthand right.

Some of these "local" pronunciations seem to pass, in my opinion...such as Boy-see instead of Boy-zee for Boise, ID. That one in particular seems to actual be the proper way based on the spelling. I admit, I did pronounce it Boy-zee because that's how I heard everyone else pronounce it. But in the spirit of saying words properly, I'll say Boy-see now.

With regards to Houston Street vs. Houston, TX...both of those pronunciations seem to be proper English because many words pronounce the "ou" differently. Those are local pronunciations that pass because they may be (in the case of the Houstons, they are) based off of proper nouns.

[triplemultiplex]

These have come up around the office here.

Charlotte, MI: pronounced "Sharr-lot" not "sharr-let"
Saline, MI: pronounced "sah-lean" with emphasis on the second syllable not the traditional "say-lean" as in salty
Milan, TN: another "my-len" instead of the more Italian "mill-on"
Novi, MI: pronounced "no-vie" not "no-vee"

Many Milwaukeeans refer to their city as "Muh-wah-key" instead of "Mill-wa-key"
It's also common for folks to smash "Fond du Lac" together and say "Fon-juh-lack".

[corco]

Some of these "local" pronunciations seem to pass, in my opinion...such as Boy-see instead of Boy-zee for Boise, ID. That one in particular seems to actual be the proper way based on the spelling. I admit, I did pronounce it Boy-zee because that's how I heard everyone else pronounce it. But in the spirit of saying words properly, I'll say Boy-see now.

Actually, if you want to be technical, Boise is derived from the french Les Bois (the Woods!, since Boise had an abnormal amount of trees in an otherwise very tree-less and deserty area), so the correct pronunciation is probably Bwah-zay

[yanksfan6129]

Some of these "local" pronunciations seem to pass, in my opinion...such as Boy-see instead of Boy-zee for Boise, ID. That one in particular seems to actual be the proper way based on the spelling. I admit, I did pronounce it Boy-zee because that's how I heard everyone else pronounce it. But in the spirit of saying words properly, I'll say Boy-see now.

Actually, if you want to be technical, Boise is derived from the french Les Bois (the Woods!, since Boise had an abnormal amount of trees in an otherwise very tree-less and deserty area), so the correct pronunciation is probably Bwah-zay

Ooh I like French.

[golden eagle]

Speaking of Houston, Houston County, GA is also pronounced "house-ton".

[allniter89]

As is Houston county, Alabama.....  :ded:here's nuther Mo Beal instead of Mo bull. K...thats nuff BULL 4now.

[golden eagle]

I've always heard it as "Mo-beal".

[agentsteel53]

Mo-beal - accent on first or second syllable?  I pronounce with first syllable just slightly more accented than second, while Alex distinctly puts the accent on the second.

(and that is why he has been banished to the ice fields of Delaware until further notice)

[Scott5114]

(and that is why he has been banished to the ice fields of Delaware until further notice)

Delaware doesn't have enough room for ice fields. Most of it is occupied by Joe Biden's house. (It is impossible to clinch the state highway system without his permission, since DE 74 terminates in his coat closet!)

[agentsteel53]

Delaware doesn't have enough room for ice fields. Most of it is occupied by Joe Biden's house. (It is impossible to clinch the state highway system without his permission, since DE 74 terminates in his coat closet!)

it's a narnia-like thing.  where do you think the ice fields are??

[allniter89]

Mo-beal - accent on first or second syllable?  I pronounce with first syllable just slightly more accented than second, while Alex distinctly puts the accent on the second.

(and that is why he has been banished to the ice fields of Delaware until further notice)

I was comparing the pronounciation of Mobile, AL (MO-beal) to Mobile Oil co (mobull). Never heard anyone pronoounce the city different except maybe a slight difference in accent.

[golden eagle]

Mo-beal - accent on first or second syllable?  I pronounce with first syllable just slightly more accented than second, while Alex distinctly puts the accent on the second.

(and that is why he has been banished to the ice fields of Delaware until further notice)

I've always put the emphasis on the "bile" part.

[Brandon]

Mo-beal - accent on first or second syllable?  I pronounce with first syllable just slightly more accented than second, while Alex distinctly puts the accent on the second.

(and that is why he has been banished to the ice fields of Delaware until further notice)

I was comparing the pronounciation of Mobile, AL (MO-beal) to Mobile Oil co (mobull). Never heard anyone pronoounce the city different except maybe a slight difference in accent.

Non sequitur IMHO, as one is spelled Mobile, and the oil company is Mobil.

[iwishiwascanadian]

Considering in Connecticut that we have a massive glottal stop (whenever we say anything with a letter -t in the middle of a word our tongues roll back and therefore we don't signify what we're saying) we say many places weird such as our state name.   

[kj3400]

I've got two...
Baltimore, MD: Ball-da-more
Glen Burnie, MD: Glen Burning

[mefailenglish]

I've got two...
Baltimore, MD: Ball-da-more

Not quite, it's Bal-mer.   

[OracleUsr]

Calais, ME--Pronounced KAL-lis, not kuh-LAY

[florida]

A few from FL:

Ocala = Oh-CAL-uh
Ocoee = Oh-COE-ee
Bunnell = BUH-nell
Tavares = Ta-VAIR-ees (main one I hear)
Dunnellon = DUH-nellon
Immokalee = Ih-MOCK-lee
Pahokee = Pah-HO-kee
Sebring = Sea-bring
Ebro = Eh-bro
Hobe (Sound) = Ho-bay
Oviedo = Oh-VEE-do (original Spanish pronunciation was Oh-vee-aydo)
Chuluota = Choo-li-OTA
Steinhatchee = STEEN-hatchee
Wakulla = Wah-CUL-la
Apopka = Uh-POP-ka
Eustis = YOU-stis
Weirsdale = Wears-dale

[TheHighwayMan3561]

A few more from Minnesota:

-Mahtomedi (MAH-toe-mee-die)

-Shakopee (SHAW-ka-pee, not sha-KO-pee or shake-a-pee (/laugh))

-Bemidji (bem-ID-jee)

-Edina (ee-DIE-na)

-Medina (mah-DIE-na)

One more off the top of my head from elsewhere:

Calais, ME = "callous", not "cal-ayy" like in France (edit: didn't see the post two above mine. Sorry  )