pron of Worcester, MA

[Amy West]

Wistuh is a variant that's associated with the
towns north of Worcester, spec. the
Leominster-Fitchburg area.

Wuhstuh is the standard local pron.

Woosta is nonstandard, with a mark of foreignness
to it. It's what newcomers approximate the
standard pron. as. I remember my Belmont born and
raised mother using this pron.

I don't even try to fake it: I say "Wuh-ster." No, I'm not from around here.

---Amy West
4 yrs residing in Worcester,
8 yrs working here

>Date:    Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:36:42 -0500
>From:    Wilson Gray <hwgray at GMAIL.COM>
>Subject: Re: ADS-L Digest - 22 Feb 2009 to 23 Feb 2009 (#2009-55)
>
>FWIW, a friend of mine, a native of Worcester, pronounces the name
>something like "Wistuh." I heard the same or, at least, a very similar
>pronunciation, used here in Boston by a guy who said that he had been
>to - not "lived in" - "Wistuh." I'd expect a lower vowel than what is
>probably an unrounded /u/. Naturally, another possibility is that my
>hearing simply isn't what it used to be.
>
>-Wilson
>’Äì’Äì’Äì
>All say,

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