Emphasis on Patronize

Hello, you have A Way with Words.

Hi, this is Kim calling from Carlsbad.

Hiya, Kim. How are things in Carlsbad?

Oh, things are good.

Yeah, are they?

Yeah, they’re great.

How good are they?

Well, there’s…

Carlsbad good.

Carlsbad good. There you go.

It’s like Minnesota nice, right?

Absolutely.

Well, Carlsbad is great. I’m getting my hair cut there tomorrow.

Oh, excellent.

The whole town’s going to be shut down for Martha’s haircut.

If there are roadblocks, I’ll know why.

Well, there’ll be a parade, so be sure to catch some of the candy.

That’s right. Homer, if I’m late, now you know why.

Okay, there you go.

So do they have language questions there in Carlsbad?

Well, I do. Recently, my husband was slightly annoyed with me, and he said, don’t patronize me.

And I said, I think you mean don’t patronize me, which I have to say didn’t improve his mood,

But it did raise a question as to whether or not there are two ways to pronounce the word,

And does the meaning change depending on the pronunciation?

Oh, good. So there’s a happy ending. You called us.

Absolutely.

So you said patronize.

Correct.

And that’s the way that you pronounce it for all meanings?

No. Growing up, as I recall, when someone would say, don’t patronize me,

It had a negative connotation as opposed to you patronize a restaurant

Or you’re a patron of the arts, which would be a positive connotation.

All right.

And then your husband’s name is what?

His name is Bob.

Can we talk to Bob?

Hold on.

I’ll put him on.

Hello.

Hi, Bob.

Hi.

This is Grant.

Hi.

And Martha.

And so, Bob, you say patronize.

Yeah.

I agree with Kim.

If you patronize something, if you patronize someone, it’s negative.

But if you patronize, it means you go to the store, you’re a patronizer restaurant, that sort of thing.

So based on the way you say it, it has a different meaning.

Oh, interesting.

You know, I’ve never heard that, actually, Martha. Have you?

No, but it sort of feels right now that you mention it.

Wait, so you guys no longer have a dispute then, Bob?

No, no, it’s okay.

Oh.

Well, Martha, we work miracles without knowing it.

That’s right.

Go ahead and kiss and make up.

We’ll wait.

Okay.

Can we talk to Kim again then, Bob?

Okay, she’s right here.

All right.

Thanks, Bob.

Hello.

So, wait, you guys worked it out, Kim.

No, I think he’s changed his story.

You are a persuasive woman.

You know, you have me doubting myself now, Kim,

Because as far as I know, there’s no difference in the meaning between those two pronunciations.

And in fact, some dictionaries only say that patronize is the correct pronunciation

And don’t even allow that patronize might exist as a pronunciation.

You know, I had a feeling you were going to say that.

I don’t think that those pronunciations are tied to a specific meaning, negative or positive.

Yeah, I would agree with Grant there.

Okay. So I can continue to say patronize, and he can continue to say patronize.

Yes. Go and patronize freely.

Okay.

Or patronize freely.

And fraternize.

Thank you.

And fraternize.

Bye-bye.

Kim, thank you so much. Tell Bob we said thanks.

Okay. I sure will.

All right.

Best of luck. Bye-bye.

Bye-bye.

Well, you know, if all marital disputes ended that way, this would be a happy country.

And we’d be rich.

Well, you know, we’d love to take your calls about pronunciation of words.

Let her rip.

Words@waywordradio.org, 1-877-929-WORD.