Square from Delaware, etc --- Spo-KANN

[Brian Hitchcock]

RE: What sense is "lane" being used in, that rhymes with "Spokane"? (ie, with  "man", "can", etc)?

 

As the original poster of the above, I thank you all for your comments; I now understand now that many  outlanders (apparently, even some who have been there!) pronounce “Spokane” to rhyme with “lane.”  However, I can assure that if you ever come to Spokane (or anywhere in Washington state, for that matter) and pronounce Spokane to rhyme with “lane”, you will be considered quite “lame”, no matter where you hail from or how hip you think you are.  In western Washington, my fellow natives might be a bit more forgiving if you have a hard time with local names such as Puyallup (pyoo-ĂL-up), Tulalip (too-LAY-lip), Skagit (SKĂ-jit, SKĂ-jət), Sequim (SKWIM), or even the non-tribal name Burien (BYEER-ee-ən). But you will be pleased to learn that we pronounce Humptulips exactly as you would expect.

 

P.S. pleez doo nawt kumplayn uhbowt mai laym foneteekz; ai no ai doo nawt yooz prawpər simbulz (sic).  

-bwh 

 

 

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