What’s up with certain Nevada citizens in enforcing a single pronunciation of their state name? They appear to discriminate against people who pronounce “Nevada” in a way they don’t approve. It reminds me of stories of French citizens who mistreat people who don’t speak French perfectly. Don’t Nevadans realize that the word Nevada is of Spanish origin and means roughly “snow covered” and the word may be pronounced using Spanish rules? Do Hispanic Nevadans agree with the strict pronunciation rule? The English language imports words from many other languages and thus words may be pronounced in several ways. That is the beauty of English. Consider the words and proper names: good, food, chassis, cigar, salmon, valet, Quixote, Mario, Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, New Orleans, Louisville, La Jolla, Worcester, San Jose, Thames, Botetourt, Sioux, and Sierra Nevada. To say some of these according to standard English pronunciation rules may cause confusion. Others are pronounced in several acceptable ways and still understandable. Regional accents also come into play.
Outraged Nevadans have flooded Radio and TV stations and networks with phone calls and emails when they hear a pronunciation they don’t approve. GET A LIFE! Can’t they find better things to be outraged about?
If anyone should be booed for pronunciation it should be President Bush. His misreading of “nuclear” is not a matter of pronunciation, but of illiteracy. And he seems to be proud of it.
Nevadans should chill out and be more tolerant. A person’s pronunciation of “Nevada” is not an indicator of being or not being a member of the “master race”.
No comments:
Post a Comment