How to say 'Canim Lake' in English

[Leanne Riding]

The funny irony is that because I am a native speaker of English and not 
Chinook Jargon is that I cannot tell when I am pronouncing it 
differently!

So here are a few place names I know and how I would pronounce them.

"Kiwa River" I pronounce KEE-wa, some probably say KAI-wa.
"Spuzzum" I pronounce SPUZ-um.
"Mesachie Lake" I pronounce Me-SATCH-ee Lake.

hmm...I'm falling short with remembering places...I think I have to find 
a better map...

My general B.C. pronunciations might not have anything to do with how 
the immediate locals pronounce it. An interesting thing I've noticed is 
that locals are very loyal to the original pronunciations of their place 
names. In Kamloops, for instance, Tranquille is "tron-KEEL." Kamloopers 
can tell newcomers in an instant because they usually read 
"TRANG-kwill." I've read that folks in Abbotsford are often annoyed by 
the way the name of their town is pronounced by the B.C. media -- locals 
say its "Abbots-ferd" not "Abbots-ford." Tete Jaune Cache residents 
detect newcomers in a similar fashion. The locals say "TEE Jon Cash," 
rather that "tay jaun cash" or "tett jaun cash." Shuswap as "Shushwap," 
ie. "Shushwap Lake," etc. Monte Creek as "Monty Creek" (ie., Montée 
Creek).

In that vein, sa-HAL-ee could have been the way the place was pronounced 
since the day it was named, even though that seems illogical. How that 
would come about I don't know but it's possible.


On Friday, July 9, 2004, at 04:32 , David Robertson wrote:

> When Bernard visited my place a few days ago, we discussed the BC town
> named Canim Lake.  (Canim is Jargon for 'canoe'.)  I pronounced it 
> ka-NIM,
> as I would in Jargon, and was corrected to KAN-im.  These pronunciations
> in English of Chinook words are pretty interesting.  Another favorite of
> mine is sa-HAL-ee for the Kamloops neighborhood of Sahali / Sahali
> Heights.  I'd say SAH-ha-lee if I hadn't heard Kamloopers talk about the
> place.
>
> Can anyone think of other Jargon names that are used in English,
> pronounced in unexpected ways?  There are some Chinook words that are
> spelled so English speakers will only say them one way, like Skookum and
> Chuck and Potlatch.
>
> Your examples are solicited.
>
> --Dave R.
>
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>

-- Leanne (http://timetemple.com)

To respond to the CHINOOK list, click 'REPLY ALL'.  To respond privately to the sender of a message, click 'REPLY'.  Hayu masi!