It's a bit different but I want to try something with the few foreign readers that I have. Take a look at the following list of names. If you would be so kind, record yourself and send me a copy. I'm interesting in hearing y'all trying to pronounce some of the things that are here in Midwest America.
CuyahogaI'm not sure that I'll get anyone who would want to do this but as a reward, I will send anyone who participates a gift. If you are an non-resident, I will send you a Michigan t-shirt. How does that sound?
Des Moines
Des Plaines
Illinois
Kalamazoo
Kosciusko
Louisville (I’ll accept two)
Mackinac
Mishawaka
Pulaski
Sault Sainte Marie
Terre Haute
Versailles
Ypsilanti
Even if I get only one entry, I'll send that person stuff. Don't worry, I won't put your clip on this blog. It'll be for my amusement only. If I do get an entry or hopefully entries, I will make a video post and you can see and hear a Midwesterner in action.
4 comments:
Strangely enough most Aussies actively try not to sound like Steve Irwin or Paul Hogan either (except when we're trying to scare tourists)... we do have a few fairly colorful pieces of slang in more active use though, e.g. this lot (warning, crimes against html on that website), or these. And yes, many of them are in common use. For example, "it's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey" is a personal favorite.
Also, to have a guess at some of those place names (leaving out the ones where I've been taught how to say them previously) - phonetically or thereabouts, with caps showing stressed syllables:
Cuyahoga - KOO-ya-ho-ga
Des Plaines - first s silent, second one not silent?
Kosciusko - the one in Australia is KOZ-ee-OS-ko, I presume it's similar in the US?
Mishawaka - MISH-uh-WAK-a
Pulaski - Puh-LAS-kee
Terre Haute - TER-ruh Howt
Versailles - to rhyme with smiles, I'd guess?
Ypsilanti - UP-si-LAN-tee
Close-ish?
You should have put Galien in there too. It gets people every time. :P
@John Provis: You got two if I'm reading you correctly.
@Kris: I can never see what's in front of me. Besides, that place doesn't deserve any kind of publicity.
You know, I gave myself a kick. I should have put Bremen on the list as well.
You can hear my trying to pronounce the place names...here.
Let me know what you think.
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