Street name pronunciation thread (New York, Union: transplants, living, vs.)
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I still hear/use Van Wick, though Van Wike is actually correct if I'm not mistaken.
I've always thought of Spuyten Duyvil as "Spite-in Deevle" so I was pretty close
Yes the locals do say *Spite-in* in the first part when said fast, but if on Metro-North when approaching the Spuyten Duyvil Metro-North station, will hear the automated announcement which is said carefully (Spy-ten Die-vul), but no one locally says it that way. They all say *Spite-in Die-vul*. Seems as if more recently one can hear *South Riverdale* used to get around saying Spuyten Duyvil, as Spuyten Duyvil is a subsection of Riverdale (the southernmost part), but it is treated as a neighborhood in and of itself. Years ago Is-ham was what one would think of when Isham street appeared, but heard a man who grew up in Inwood say it and he says *I-sh-hem* street, with an emphasis on the *I* at the beginning.
Yes the locals do say *Spite-in* in the first part when said fast, but if on Metro-North when approaching the Spuyten Duyvil Metro-North station, will hear the automated announcement which is said carefully (Spy-ten Die-vul), but no one locally says it that way. They all say *Spite-in Die-vul*. Seems as if more recently one can hear *South Riverdale* used to get around saying Spuyten Duyvil, as Spuyten Duyvil is a subsection of Riverdale (the southernmost part), but it is treated as a neighborhood in and of itself. Years ago Is-ham was what one would think of when Isham street appeared, but heard a man who grew up in Inwood say it and he says *I-sh-hem* street, with an emphasis on the *I* at the beginning.
That's weird, I would have guessed that such a street is pronounced "Ish-um"
And Dyckman I pronounce Dikeman, but I think everyone does
It drives me crazy when I hear people pronouncing Roosevelt Ave as "RUSE-eh-velt" instead of the correct ROSE-eh-velt. It's like these people have slept through their entire US history classes in high school. I'll give a pass to the new Americans or immigrants among us, but people who grew up here really ought to know.
There has been much debate about the correct pronunciation of Roosevelt's last name, however, in several letters Theodore Roosevelt himself specifies the correct pronunciation. In a letter to the Rev. William W. Moir dated October 10, 1898 he writes:
As for my name, it is pronounced as if it was spelled "Rosavelt." That is in three syllables. The first syllable as if it was "Rose."
For DeKalb, the train says, "Deh-kalb." It has more of a soft "de" sound according to the computer.
Brooklynites always say *dee-Kalb*.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Henna
It drives me crazy when I hear people pronouncing Roosevelt Ave as "RUSE-eh-velt" instead of the correct ROSE-eh-velt. It's like these people have slept through their entire US history classes in high school. I'll give a pass to the new Americans or immigrants among us, but people who grew up here really ought to know.
There has been much debate about the correct pronunciation of Roosevelt's last name, however, in several letters Theodore Roosevelt himself specifies the correct pronunciation. In a letter to the Rev. William W. Moir dated October 10, 1898 he writes:
As for my name, it is pronounced as if it was spelled "Rosavelt." That is in three syllables. The first syllable as if it was "Rose."
Possibly an uneducated native New Yorker thing. Just like I was saying, those who slept through U.S. history class. If it were an issue of Ny accent, then do they say, I'm going to get my wife some rooh-ses for valentines day, or in going to Joo's house (instead of Joe)? Guess not. So the theory about the accent is wrong.
Possibly an uneducated native New Yorker thing. Just like I was saying, those who slept through U.S. history class. If it were an issue of Ny accent, then do they say, I'm going to get my wife some rooh-ses for valentines day, or in going to Joo's house (instead of Joe)? Guess not. So the theory about the accent is wrong.
You are not a native so you wouldn't know, and it's insulting for you to make assumptions about one's education solely based on how they say a word. Am sure you have an accent too from whatever small town you came from. We can make a lot of assumptions about you too. The whole Ruse-eh-velt thing is a native thing, and you wouldn't understand it and never will. If you're gonna come here and be all holier than thou why not go back where you came from?
You are not a native so you wouldn't know, and it's insulting for you to make assumptions about one's education solely based on how they say a word.
I'm glad you feel insulted. You should.
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