Rich’s Pet Peeve of the Day
I know, complain complain complain.
Why is it that folks from the mainland (continental U.S.) pronounce things incorrectly? You may or may not know who you are…. So what is the “correct” pronunciation? The ubiquitous dictionary gives us a clue here. But bushie pronouncing “nuclear” leaves little room for the assumption that most folks from Texas know how to use one. Now wait a second, I can say this – I’m technically a native of that fine state.
Can you say cat? If you do, foreigners know that you’re ”yanke doodle” because very few, if any, of the world's languages utilize this sound.
Hawaiian’s are typically genuinely amused with “tourists” trying to pronounce Kaaawa, Kalakaua, Kalanianaole or even the simple Like Like highway. And there are plenty to go around (and we love you – no we really do!). Did you say Like Like as in, ”I like you, you beautiful sexy thing!”? BUSTED!!! If we weren’t certain that you were a tourist initially, we sure are now.
Let’s start at the beginning – 101A. Simply, Hawaiian’s pronounce words like the rest of the entire world. At least the kamaAina do.
It’s pretty simple actually, We all know the vowels A E I O U. Now pronounce them “Ahh[like that place you swill a cool one] Aye[like as in It’s a sunny day] EEE[like Mary had a little lamb, it’s fleece was…] Oh[ as in “the big”] Ooh[ like Lou Reed].
Now get this, it’s practically impossible to pronounce a long-A without immediately following it with an “EEE”. Go ahead try it. That’s why Hawaiians spell such things as a lei (that flower thing around your neck) as they do.
So what’s the gist of this Rich?I just get a chuckle when I hear dubya say things like “Sadamn Hussein” or Viet Nam[as dam]. It’s just not right.
The intent of this blog is simple education. God knows there is a big difference between naïve and stupid. I’m not being hypocritical here (well I’m trying). Sometimes I’m naïve. Sometimes I’m stupid. Sometimes I’m both. So is the president but I digress.
You should have heard the guy laugh at the ferry entrance in British Columbia at my own corruption of that city’s name Tsawwasen.
This blog was meant to be educational not patronizing. Please regard it as such.
I know I’m going to catch hell for this anyway. So bring it on.
1:20:30 PM 
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