arKANsas (P.S.)

[Laurence Horn]

At 12:53 AM -0400 5/19/10, Baker, John M. wrote:
>  >From http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/ArkansasCode/0/1-4-105.htm:
>
>
>1-4-105. Pronunciation of state name.
>
>    Whereas, confusion of practice has arisen in the pronunciation of
>the name of our state and it is deemed important that the true
>pronunciation should be determined for use in oral official
>proceedings.
>
>    And, whereas, the matter has been thoroughly investigated by the
>State Historical Society and the Eclectic Society of Little Rock,
>which have agreed upon the correct pronunciation as derived from
>history and the early usage of the American immigrants.
>
>    Be it therefore resolved by both houses of the General Assembly,
>that the only true pronunciation of the name of the state, in the
>opinion of this body, is that received by the French from the native
>Indians and committed to writing in the French word representing the
>sound. It should be pronounced in three (3) syllables, with the
>final "s" silent, the "a" in each syllable with the Italian sound,
>and the accent on the first and last syllables.

Oops, I see what you're getting at.  Nobody pronounces the last two
"a"s of Arkansas "with the Italian sound".  The first one, yes.
Guess the legislators got carried away.

LH

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