A listener reports that the pronunciation of Novi, Michigan, is counterintuitive. It’s pronounced noh-VYE. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Novi, Michigan” You remember our conversation where I was talking about going to Vermont...
Have you ever offered to foster a dog or cat, but wound up adopting instead? There’s an alliterative term for that. And when you’re on the job, do niceties like “Yes, ma’am” and “No, sir” make you sound too formal? Not if it comes naturally. And...
When it comes to the names of towns and cities, the locals don’t necessarily pronounce them the way you expect. Charlotte, Vermont, for example, is pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable, not the first — and therein lies a history lesson...
If you think the city of Riga, New York, is pronounced like the city in Latvia, think again. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Riga” A couple more surprising town names from New York State. Do you know how you pronounce the town...
How do you pronounce the name Carnegie? The Scottish industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, pronounced it with an accent on the second syllable, as his namesake the Carnegie Corporation of New York takes pains to make clear. Good luck...
A listener in Billings, Montana, says his brother is an English teacher who corrects his pronunciation of forte, meaning “strong point.” Pedants will insist that it should be pronounced FORT, but that reflects an assumption about its etymology...