Date: Thu, 13 Nov 1997 09:41:16 -0500

From: Grant Barrett gbarrett[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]JERRYNET.COM

Subject: RE St. Lewis



My father, a Missouri native who spent part of his childhood in the Ozarks and the other part in

St. Louis, claims the city is called /sant LOUH-uss muh-ZER-uh/ (please pardon my amateur

attempts at presenting a pronunciation guide). The i in Saint is disregarded and the LOUH is kind

of like the French "le" but less, well, French.



My mother, on the other hand, who spent her entire childhood in the St. Louis, claims the more

conventional pronunciation of /saint LOOH-iss mih-ZER-ee/. Strongest accent in the whole

phrase on the ZER.



The only people who pronounce it Saint Looey are freaks, weirdos and other foreigners. I have

never, I repeat never, heard anyone from that city call it Saint Looey outside of a bad joke.



Judy Garland got it wrong.



I myself pronounce it like my mother unless I'm tired or drunk in which case the hillbilly comes

out and I talk like my father.



Grant Barrett

gbarrett[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]dfjp.com



PS: Welcome back, Barry.