Date: Thu, 13 Nov 1997 23:55:30 -0600

From: "Donald M. Lance" engdl[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]SHOWME.MISSOURI.EDU

Subject: Re: RE St. Lewis



Grant Barrett

gbarrett[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]dfjp.com



wrote:



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.



...........................



What vowel does "ZER" have? The vowel of 'pooh' or 'put' or 'purr'? Are

you sure all three of you have the same vowel in this syllable? All three

pronunciations are common in 'Missouri'.



And LOUH has the vowel of 'Luke' and LOOH the vowel of 'look'?