Pittsburra

[Josh Stevens]

Why don't you pronounce Pittsburgh correctly?  Just askin.

[Ronald Montesano]

Never heard this until now. Maybe the Italian influence? Announcers trying to be trendy and home-slice chill?


TAKE TWO: "correctly" Well, now that I figured out what you mean, language and pronunciation evolve as the language moves around the world. Spanish (which I teach) does the same thing over its 20 countries where the language is official. Caribbean is different from northern Spain, differs from southern cone (Argentina, Uruguay, parts of Chile), is different from central America, Mexico, and Andean Spanish.


Ergo, English differs from New Zealand to western Canada, to all over these freaking USs of A, to South Africa, to Australia, to eastern Canada, to all over Europe. There is no "correct" in the eyes of daily speakers; there is simply our way.

[Josh Stevens]

I confess the American pronunciation makes more sense, but isn't half as cool sounding as Edinburgh, but probably easier to say when pissed.

Its odd, as apparently the city was named by an Englishman (General John Forbes) and so probably meant to be pronounced as in Scotland, but somewhere along the way it got perverted.


Best not to get onto Worcester or Gloucester

[Matt Dawson]

I love the pronunciations. As a single I was joined up with 3 delightful American visitors on the Old Course a few years back, and we were making conversation on the tee:

Me: “Are you having fun? Where have you played so far?”

Americans: “Oh we’re having a blast. We’ve been to Lotch Le-MOND, Gull-AYNE and next we’re going to North BURR-wick”

Me: “Ah I see”

 

Mind you I imagine that We-Ko-Pa is pronounced "Wee Cooper" with a Scottish roll of the r

[Sean_A]

Mind you I imagine that We-Ko-Pa is pronounced "Wee Cooper" with a Scottish roll of the r

 


Ciao

[Marty Bonnar]

I confess the American pronunciation makes more sense, but isn't half as cool sounding as Edinburgh, but probably easier to say when pissed.

Its odd, as apparently the city was named by an Englishman (General John Forbes) and so probably meant to be pronounced as in Scotland, but somewhere along the way it got perverted.


Best not to get onto Worcester or Gloucester

Englishman? Englishman!!!???
Sorry, but ah'm just no' havin' that! The General was born in this big hoose in the middle of the park I've just spent the last three years of my life restoring:

[Marty Bonnar]

A couple of interesting things from the park:

[Marty Bonnar]

And:

[Thomas Dai]

Two visiting golfers on their way from Royal St David's GC at Harlech to Bull Bay GC on Anglesey stop off for some food in the village of, wait for it.........Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

While taking their food order they ask the waitress to please pronounce very slowly the name of the place their in.

The waitress looks at them in a somewhat bemused manner and replies.......

"B-u-r-g-e-r  K-i-n-g"

Atb

[Josh Stevens]

I confess the American pronunciation makes more sense, but isn't half as cool sounding as Edinburgh, but probably easier to say when pissed.

Its odd, as apparently the city was named by an Englishman (General John Forbes) and so probably meant to be pronounced as in Scotland, but somewhere along the way it got perverted.


Best not to get onto Worcester or Gloucester

Englishman? Englishman!!!???
Sorry, but ah'm just no' havin' that! The General was born in this big hoose in the middle of the park I've just spent the last three years of my life restoring:

Oops sorry, a British Person

[Kyle Harris]

Fun fact:

The most dialect-free version of the English language is spoken in an area centering on Columbus, OH and extending south and east toward Morgantown, WV.

[Joe Bausch]

Fun fact:

The most dialect-free version of the English language is spoken in an area centering on Columbus, OH and extending south and east toward Morgantown, WV.

Somewhat related:  while in graduate school in Los Angeles many years ago I was part of a group with researchers from all over the world.  And many of the non-native English speakers would gravitate to me as they said I sounded just like the people on the tapes helping them to learn the language!

[Wayne_Kozun]

I love the pronunciations. As a single I was joined up with 3 delightful American visitors on the Old Course a few years back, and we were making conversation on the tee:
..., Gull-AYNE ...

I thought that this one was even open to debate amongst those living there with at least two options - Gill-in and Gull-in.  Anyone have an opinion?

And then there is Americans trying to pronounce English soccer teams:
http://www.wsj.com/video/wsj-guide-to-pronouncing-englands-soccer-teams/4B01821B-7715-438C-B593-3C4DE979F631.html

[Ronald Montesano]

When you say "dialect free, " might you elaborate? Some might interpret that as lacking idiomatic expressions, while others might read it as having a standardized sound.


Determining what idioms are, and what the standardized sound is, would be the next barrel of Pandora's fish that we would have to shoot and box.