How To Confuse An Oregonian (east coast, road, pronounce)

[pnwguy2]

In Oregon it is "going to the coast".

In California it is "going to the beach"

This of course is simplifying the argument, but it is true as one can witness on local tv weather reports. In Portland it is the forecast for the "coast". In LA, it is the forecast for the "beaches". While LA is closer to their coast, they also provide inland weather reports that stretch as far inland as Portland is to its coast.

[NW4me]

Originally Posted by Algiz

Uh...I'm from San Diego. I think that qualifies as SoCal, um, I mean Southern California.

I say "5" when I'm referring to Interstate 5. I do not use "the" EVER. I mean, like, NEVER. That's, like, TOTALLY wrong. Native Californians don't use "the." It's the people who moved there, then moved your way when they'd finished crowding the beaches and roads, made their money, and then decided to find greener pastures elsewhere. Those are the people you call "Californians." You know, the people from Minnesota. Or from Arizona. Or Oregon or Washington. In fact, come to think of it, the people who bought our house in San Diego came from Seattle.

I grew up a couple blocks from Morena Blvd across from Sea World when I-5 hadn't been built along that stretch yet. I remember my mother taking me by the hand and crossing the marshes on our way to Mission Bay, no problem crossing the freeway because it wasn't there. Then they began building it, and we couldn't go to Mission Bay any more. Then I got older and rode my bike there, then rode to the beach, you know,where the waves are. I rode to PB. Or OB. And sometimes Mission Beach, not MB...Oh my Gawd! See, that's a Californian talking. I drive 5 all the time still even though I live in the PNW now.

What difference does it make whether someone says "5" or "the 5"??

[pnwguy2]

I have audio of SoCal traffic reporters calling freeways "The" back into the late 80's. So this isn't anything new.

To Algiz: I don't think this is totally an outside Cali phenomenon. How could it be? For it to become so common it would need the natives to step on board.

But as NW4me says, it really doesn't matter much. I just find it interesting as someone who follows language and phrase differences within the U.S.

And yes, I do hear it in the Seattle area, but not to any huge extent.

As a sidebar: I remember that Seattle copied the "Sig Alert" in the 80's, even though "Sig" had nothing to do with Seattle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sig_Alert

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Originally Posted by Cloudy Dayz

Again I believe you are thinking of the past. ODOT's current signs all say "Oregon Coast". I haven't seen any "Ocean Beaches" signs in years, except for the ones in Grants Pass for US-199. I would guess those retain "Ocean Beaches" because ODOT prefers that to "California Coast".

I would be interested to know what the story behind the Ocean Beaches signs was. I have a suspicion that the Oregon Tourism Commission probably had something to do with it. Maybe they thought that Ocean Beaches sounded better and was more likely to get tourists to get off I-5 and drive over to the coast. Whatever the reason was, they don't use those signs anymore.

The signs in Salem say "Ocean Beaches".

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Originally Posted by Larry Caldwell

The correct pronunciation is HECK-u-tuh.

Too bad NO ONE ever says it that way.

Even the National Weather Service NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts.

To think we've been saying it wrong all these years!

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by pdxMIKEpdx

The signs in Salem say "Ocean Beaches".

At what locations and when did you see the "Ocean Beaches" signs? It sounds to me like you haven't been to Salem in the last five years, or you don't pay much attention to the signs.

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Next time I'm in Salem I'll take a picture just for you.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by pdxMIKEpdx

Next time I'm in Salem I'll take a picture just for you.

You can just tell me the location of the sign. I can find a picture of it in a few minutes. I was last in Salem three months ago. There were no Ocean Beaches signs anywhere at that time. ODOT replaced all of those about five years ago.

[Metlakatla]

This is from 2016:

From Salem
Travel west on Oregon Highway 22W through Salem, following signs for Ocean Beaches. At the junction with Oregon Highway 99W, exit right towards McMinnville and follow the loop. At the stop sign, turn left onto 99W. Follow the highway north into McMinnville, about 20 miles.

http://visitmcminnville.com/mcminnvi...o-mcminnville/

I don't pay attention to the signs anymore because I know where I'm going.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

This is from 2016:



Getting to McMinnville – Visit McMinnville

I don't pay attention to the signs anymore because I know where I'm going.

Apparently I'm the only one who does pay attention to the signs. LOL. Maybe it's because I don't own a GPS.