Learn to speak Wisconsin

[Paul Johnston]

Tom should know the set up in New Jersey, where he lives.  When I
moved there, I mispronounced forms for places like Weequahic,
Matawan, and Communipaw and learned 2 correct pronunciations for
Wanaque (though which ones the locals use I don't know.  Most
Morristonians said Wah-ne-cue, but people  from Orange County, NY,
who were closer, said Wah-ne-kee).  I'm sure the original Delaware
had only a passing resemblance to what we pronounce.  Connecticut has
some nice Mohegan/Pequot names too, if a little thinner on the
ground.  The name of the state itself is an example, though.

Paul Johnston (now living in Kalamazoo, from  the Potawatomi language)
On Sep 7, 2007, at 10:10 PM, Beverly Flanigan wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Beverly Flanigan <flanigan at OHIO.EDU>
> Subject:      Re: Learn to speak Wisconsin
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> ---------
>
> These pronunciations are no problem for us Minnesotans; we have an
> abundance of Native Indian place names ourselves (Ojibwe and Dakota
> Sioux).
>
> At 09:53 PM 9/7/2007, you wrote:
>> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
>> -----------------------
>> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>> Poster:       Tom Zurinskas <truespel at HOTMAIL.COM>
>> Subject:      Learn to speak Wisconsin
>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>> ----------
>>
>> The below from the Chicago Tribune
>>
>>
>> Learn to speak Wisconsin
>> Posted by Toni Salama at 8 a.m. CDT
>>
>> Some Wisconsin place names are downright intimidating. If they're not
>> out-and-out tongue-twisters, their spelling can stump even the most
>> lingually gifted among us.
>>
>> I guess you have to expect that in a state whose very name,
>> Wisconsin, is
>> the English spelling of a French version of an Indian name for the
>> river
>> that runs through the center of the state.
>>
>> To the rescue comes MissPronouncer.com, where a click on Wisconsin
>> place
>> names is rewarded with audio of the correct pronunciation.
>>
>> Among the trickiest problems solved:
>>
>> Ashwaubenon
>> Chequamegon
>> Kaukauna
>> Kinnickinnic
>> Menomonie
>> Mequon
>> Oconomowoc
>> Prairie du Chien
>> St. Nazianz
>> Trempealeau
>> Weyauwega
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Tom Zurinskas, USA - CT20, TN3, NJ33, FL5+
>> See truespel.com - and the 4  truespel books plus "Occasional
>> Poems" at
>> authorhouse.com.
>>
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>
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