What's with the pronunciation of Louisville by Louisville local media? (Lexington: law school, law)

[celtblood]

You are exactly correct. Miss Humphrey was cute, so it took off. But it really sounds ignorant to outsiders, I know because I hear it all the time. Try explaining to British friends how a supposed "world class city" comes across as having no idea of whom it was named for.

[flashfearless]

It Luavul or you’re not a native. That’s how you tell.

[Waiting to Leave]

Originally Posted by celtblood

Bingham was right, the city is named after King Louis XVI, so the only correct pronunciation is ”Loo-ee-ville”. ”Loo-vul” is just silly, it sounds like you have a mouthful of cotton or peanuts and can't talk. We have out of state residents who visit and literally make fun of the news anchors, it's embarrassing. ”World Class City” my butt.

Couldn't have said it better myself!

[lvmensch]

Originally Posted by flashfearless

It Luavul or you’re not a native. That’s how you tell.

Nonsense I grew up there. As a young adult I was the Company Clerk in an army propaganda radio station. Was set up to broadcast to US Troops. All the officers were main station talking heads in Louisville and most of the senior enlisted were radio or tv station employees. The pronunciation was LU E Ville.

Lu a vul was the folks from down state and the hills. The locally grown and educated were LU E Ville. My very first sweetheart was a hill lady who taught me all sorts of things. But she called it LUAVUL.

Me and my four siblings tended to be aware of this as both our parents were NY English majors.

[Waiting to Leave]

Originally Posted by flashfearless

It Luavul or you’re not a native. That’s how you tell.

1) None of the zip codes in your ""About Me" section are in Louisville or even the Louisville area.

2) I've known plenty of transplants who have said "Loo-uh-vuhl" or as you say "Luavul" and I've known a number who have been here generations who say Lou-E-ville.

[Crazee Cat Lady]

You say either and I say either,
You say neither and I say neither
Either, either neither, neither
Let's call the whole thing off.


You like potato and I like potato
You like tomato and I like tomato
Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto.

Let's call the whole thing off

Anyway you say it....

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by Waiting to Leave

1) None of the zip codes in your ""About Me" section are in Louisville or even the Louisville area.

2) I've known plenty of transplants who have said "Loo-uh-vuhl" or as you say "Luavul" and I've known a number who have been here generations who say Lou-E-ville.

The whole 'Luhvul" thing is ignorant. I have been in and out of Louisville 20 years. Many years ago a local told me a local newscaster made up that pronunciation and it stuck. We should Lou-e-ville like the traditional old school Irish and Germans who built this great city!

[GraniteStater]

I split the difference and say Lou-I-Ville.

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by GraniteStater

I split the difference and say Lou-I-Ville.

I can dig it!

[OldOzarkLady]

Originally Posted by Guineas

I grew up in Lexington and have always pronounced Louisville as "Lou-uh-vul" and always thought that's the correct local pronunciation.

But why do Louisville TV anchors and radio stations pronounce it as "Lou-ee-ville"? It sounds disturbingly weird, like an occupation regime mispronouncing local names. But then local ads come up, and they pronounce it as I do.

You are correct I believe. There is this new yankeeization of speech going all over the south. They are trying to say 'you guys' rather than y'all, and pronounce route like root rather than rhyme with about, which is correct here. The yankocracy is trying to take away our cultural heritage, is that your cultural heritage, that is not my cultural heritage?