[or-roots] Mispronunciation, was Found him

[Marilyn Schwartz]

This discussion about mispronunciation reminds me of an anecdote from my
brother years ago when he was a cadet at the US Merchant Marine Academy.

As part of his training, he did a stint aboard the US Navy ship, USS Skagit.
Having been raised in the Skagit Valley in Washington, he was surprised on
board to hear the ship referred to as the "Skaggit."

After an appropriate time aboard, he dared to talk to the chief officer
about this.  He gingerly began to explain that the ship's name should be
pronounced "Skajit."  He explained, "Sir, I was raised in Skagit County, I
fished the Skagit River, I read the Skagit Valley Herald, and the correct
pronunciation is 'Skajit.'"

The officer stood very straight, raised his shoulders and looked my brother
straight in the eye.  "Son, this is a NAVY ship, and the NAVY pronounces it
SKAGGIT."

End of discussion.  

I've often wondered if that is how it is STILL pronounced.

-----Original Message-----
From: or-roots-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
[mailto:or-roots-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Kith-n-Kin
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 4:13 PM
To: 'or-roots mail list'
Subject: Re: [or-roots] Found him

I'd have to ask, but I seem to remember pen'-doe-ray. Why did I think that
it was in Idaho?  Hmmm. Back to the maps.  Anyone on here from 'round there?

BTW, for years I pronounced Penelope as Pe-neh-lope. Heck, that's how it's
spelled.

Pat



-----Original Message-----
From: or-roots-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
[mailto:or-roots-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Leslie
Chapman
Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 3:19 PM
To: or-roots mail list
Subject: Re: [or-roots] Found him

Good job!

I just got a wild hair and decided to find out how to pronounce "Pend
Oreille" since on the face of it my pronouncing it just the way it's spelled
I suspected was wrong. Wonder if I have ever said that out loud to some one
who knew how to say it?? they probably wondered where I was talking about;
Pawn deh raw with emfasisis on the raw is as close as I can get in print.
Dalkena for those who were waiting with bated breath (bet some of you
thought that was spelled baited didn't you?) is about 45 miles north -
northe east of Spokane on a right ancle bend in the Pend Oreille River.

I guess any language than can pronounce Worcester Wooster shouldn't suprise
me that some thing that looks like two words with a total of at least four
sylables would be pronounced as one word with three.

Les

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