ol' Mizzou
Oct. 25th, 2006 03:50 pmOkay, 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.)
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.
Most states do not end with the letter A. The only ones that do...
Date: Oct. 25th, 2006 08:34 pm (UTC)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?"