ol' Mizzou

[fflo]

Okay, I watched the Michael J. Fox political ad (for the candidate favoring stem cell research in the Missouri U.S. Senate race), which's gotten attention because Rush Limbaugh accused Fox of playing up his symptoms to exploit his illness for political reasons.

What strikes me, watching the ad, isn't his ticking: it's that he pronounces the name of the state with a schwa sound at the end, instead of a long e. I don't think I know anybody not from the central U.S. who does that. Anybody else? Could that be a subtle political calculation? I guess I don't know whether the Show-Me folk say it that way themselves, even in certain parts of the state. aabassplayer, can you help me on that question? (BTW, I know I'm currently losing our bet... but I'm far from giving up hope.)

Comments

Most states do not end with the letter A. The only ones that do...

[wednes.livejournal.com]

You mean like, Missourah?

Emo Phillips used to make a joke about that, so I always assumed it was something old people said if they were from Missourah. Grandpa Abe Simpsons supports this theory by also saying it that way. But I don't recall anyone in real life saying it.

Come to think of it, nor have I heard anyone from Canada overuse "eh?"

[aabassplayer.livejournal.com]

ah, yes....the infamous "mihzurie" versus "muhzuruh" debate. Well...All the old coots call it Muhzuruh...My grandfather was from the area, and he was quite admamant about the pronunciation. The name is lent from the Missouria tribe of Siouan Indians. The Missouria (or Missouri) indians called themselves the Niúachi in their own dialect, but the Osage called them Waçux¢a and the Quapaw called them the Wa-ju'-xd¢ǎ...so, it seems about half and half that the etomology came from having a schwa at the end.

So, both are correct, but the folks that speak the language of the ozarks (side-of-the-mouth,underhand slurs) call it Muhzuruh. Me...if I'm lazy or being mindless, I call it Mizurie, but my grandfather's teachings always come back to haunt me...."uh....Whut 'ah meant tuh say wuz Muhzuruh"...

And....Them thar pretty stripe-ed kitty cats from up nort' best be winning tonight if they want any chance at all...;-)

[aabassplayer.livejournal.com]

and...um, yeah....regarding the subtle political calculation, you've got it right on....mainly, the commercial is to sway the right-wing vote in MO...to capture the Good Ol' Boys' attention, you say Muhzuruh....Everyone pretty much knows we've got mainly Democratic votes coming out of the three major cities in the state...When you get into the hills (where 80% of the voting MO population lives), you find a greater number of folks using the schwa.

Missouri and Illinois are kind of similar in partisan political layout...80% democrat in major cities, 20% republican. Difference is that Illinois has 80% of the voting public living in the major cities, and Missouri only has 20% in the major cities.

Blue dots in 80% rural red states really suck.

Did I ever post about my response letter from sending a note to my congressperson regarding the FMA vote....Talk about scary....and whats worse is I won't be around to vote, nor did I get an absentee ballot in time. :-(

[sprig5.livejournal.com]

My grandma, from Wisconsin, said "Mizzourah." She also said "davenport" (for couch or sofa).

[vjsmom.livejournal.com]

Mine (from the Sho') said "davenport" too-and "zinc" for "sink." I think the "zinc" thing used to be pretty common with older people, going back to what the sinks used to be made of, I think. I don't know where "davenport" comes from. I have one aunt who still uses that word for her couch.

[sprig5.livejournal.com]

also, that's interesting about zinc, and i had never heard that before, thanks. the political musings about missouri (above) are very interesting too.

oh yeah. my grandma said "CincinNATuh," too. (But she didn't say "Milwaukuh." Actually, the people from there tend to say "M'wAHky." The mwah is all together and very fast.

[fflo.livejournal.com]

I love these sorts of relatings. Thanks for your musings, all ya'll.

[queerbychoice.livejournal.com]

Yes, the Show-Me folk do say it that way. (I know because I dated one . . . one who didn't say it that way anymore, but who used to, and who claimed that every single other person in the state said it that way and he was just being rebellious by refusing to.)

[vjsmom.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of how my friend EJ & I were determined that we were not going to have an "Easten Shore" accent. We made a conscious decision to not let it develop.