|
05-17-2009, 06:24 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2008
21 posts, read 14,692 times
Reputation: 30
|
|
Iowa pronunciation -- Loess?
As a westerner moving to the great state of Iowa, I have a quick pronunciation question.
How do you pronounce Loess as in the 'Loess Hills'? The web has several different pronunciations. What do Iowans call it?
|
|
05-17-2009, 06:33 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Coralville/Ames, IA
156 posts, read 119,016 times
Reputation: 70
|
|
|
I always say it like the name "Lois". But I'm not from that part of the state so I don't know if that's the "correct" way to say it.
|
|
05-17-2009, 06:54 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Des Moines
271 posts, read 291,748 times
Reputation: 100
|
|
|
I've always heard it pronounced as "luss" hills but maybe that's a little southern Iowa twang on "lois" or "lo-ess".
|
|
05-17-2009, 10:54 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2009
381 posts, read 141,345 times
Reputation: 337
|
|
|
I've heard that it's supposed to be pronounce Loose Hills. I'm really unsure myself.
|
|
05-18-2009, 08:27 AM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Des Moines
271 posts, read 291,748 times
Reputation: 100
|
|
|
From dictionary.com:
lo⋅ess
loh-es
|
|
05-18-2009, 11:09 AM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Iowa
587 posts, read 318,373 times
Reputation: 182
|
|
|
I guess the confusion over the pronunciation explains why people over there always refered to them as "the hills" or "the bluffs". I don't ever remember anyone saying "hey look, there's the loess hills, or lets go visit grandma in loess land." If they would of gave them a good name to begin with, such as "Sioux Bluffs, Western Hills, or Mofford Mountains" then people would use the name more often.
|
|
05-18-2009, 01:37 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Iowa
105 posts, read 90,063 times
Reputation: 51
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mofford
Mofford Mountains
|
Is this the one that gets your vote?  |
|
05-18-2009, 05:23 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Iowa
587 posts, read 318,373 times
Reputation: 182
|
|
|
How about ..........Harvest Hills, The Floyd Range or just The Floyds, Steve King Slopes, or King Slopes, The Iowa Peaks, The Westerford's, The Blufflings, The Monona's, The Conservative Range, The Missouri Ridge, The Westovers, The Mofford Mound Divide..........
|
|
05-18-2009, 09:42 PM
|
|
Senior Member
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2009
194 posts, read 78,112 times
Reputation: 200
|
|
|
I grew up in western Iowa and most pronounced them "luss"...even those that didn't have a twangy or rural accent.
|
|
05-19-2009, 07:14 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SW Iowa
16 posts, read 10,384 times
Reputation: 15
|
|
|
The vast majority of people around here pronounce it 'luss'.
|
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
|
|
Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads. 
Linear Mode
