How to pronounce things

[Koontz John E]

On Fri, 9 Jun 2006, david costa wrote:
> 'Shah' and 'Shaw' are supposed to sound different?? :-)

I was born in Maryland (Merlin, as in Merlin Monroe) to a Baltimorean and
a Kansan and have lived since 8th Grade in Colorado, so I haven't a clue
how anything is pronounced, and often discover that my practice diverges
from my principles.

I do distinguish shah and shaw and cot and caught (most of the time - I
have "cot" myself doing it wrong!).  I have Arkans(aw), but Kansas (cans
us).  The headwaters of the Arkansas, in Colorado, revert to the Arkansan
(Arkansavian?) pronunciation, though mostly the newscasters refer to the
"Frying Pan-Arkans[aw]," which is as novel an application of a river as I
have encountered.  (I think the Frying Pan is a tributary.)

I have sometimes wondered how the <a> vs. <open o> opposition interacts
with <a> vs. <ei>, as in Iowa (< Ayuxba ~ Ayuxbe via Aiouez) vs. Ioway.

Is Chickasaw ever pronounced Chick-a-shay (rhymes with ricochet)?

Where does Missouri vs. Missourah fit into this?  (Right between Iowa and
Arkansas, I realize.)

There's a serious element to this, in that understanding the history of
this might help interpret some early Siouan materials.