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.