“Vir-Gin-Knee-Uh” or “Vir-Gin-Yuh”? Which is the preferred/higher-class pronunciation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m new to the area, and I’ve noticed a couple distinct pronunciations of “Virginia”.

I’ve noticed well-educated foreign-born people, with whom I tend to identify with more, tend to use the four-syllable pronunciation, whereas native born Americans tend to use the lazier (IMO) three-syllable pronunciation. I’ve noticed the prevalence of use of the three-syllable pronunciation isn’t really bound by SES lines, with people who I’d otherwise associate with being upper-class still using the three-syllable pronunciation.

Which is correct? As native-born Americans, which do you use? If you use the three-syllable pronunciation, why? Does it concern you or make you feel self-conscious that better-educated people might perceive you as a rube? Why does America tolerate such colloquialisms in language?

Idiotic thread and question.

Do you think it makes someone from Louisville feel self-conscious that some immigrant with a degree might say "Lou-ee-ville" rather than "Lou-a-ville"?

It’s pronounced “Low-Uh-Vul”

I would say: Lou uh vul, not Low uh vul.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"I’m new to the area, and I’ve noticed a couple distinct pronunciations of “Virginia”.

I’ve noticed well-educated foreign-born people, with whom I tend to identify with more, tend to use the four-syllable pronunciation, whereas native born Americans tend to use the lazier (IMO) three-syllable pronunciation. "

What you're describing is an accent. And it's lazy to NOT adopt the accent of where you live, especially after many many years.

It's VirginYA. And please work on shedding the accent. I know it's an effort. I've done it.

^ you have essentially said it's Virgin (like somebody who hasn't had sex)- ya. Nobody in their right mind has ever said Virgin-Ya. It's Vir-gin-yuh. You don't drawl it out when you say it either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m new to the area, and I’ve noticed a couple distinct pronunciations of “Virginia”.

I’ve noticed well-educated foreign-born people, with whom I tend to identify with more, tend to use the four-syllable pronunciation, whereas native born Americans tend to use the lazier (IMO) three-syllable pronunciation. I’ve noticed the prevalence of use of the three-syllable pronunciation isn’t really bound by SES lines, with people who I’d otherwise associate with being upper-class still using the three-syllable pronunciation.

Which is correct? As native-born Americans, which do you use? If you use the three-syllable pronunciation, why? Does it concern you or make you feel self-conscious that better-educated people might perceive you as a rube? Why does America tolerate such colloquialisms in language?

Are you concerned that your grammatical and vocabulary mistakes in the OP might cause better educated people to perceive you as a rube?

I apologize. American English is my seventh language.

No apology necessary. You seem very concerned about people being perceived as rubes, so I was wondering if you share that concern for yourself. Does someone who makes fun of others worry that others might make fun of them?

[Anonymous]

Can we talk about Norfolk? 😂

[Anonymous]

I’m at least 7th generation Virginian. Possibly more. I qualify for DAR although haven’t done the paperwork. I’ve never in my entire life heard someone from the state say it with 4 syllables. It’s 3.

[Anonymous]

"Higher-class" LOL.

[Anonymous]

Native here. It’s (obviously) Vir-gin-yuh.

I try not to judge foreigners, no matter what their education levels, for mispronouncing the name of my home state. I get that they are just ignorant. I do judge them if they call the airport in Arlington Reagan, however.

[Anonymous]

Do they also call Maryland “Mar-ee-land”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How you pronounce something regional, as in a city, tells a person if you are from there or not. The Lou-a-ville PP is a perfect example. No one from Louisville says: Lou-ee-ville.

Or New Orleans. New Or Leans or outsiders.
Na orlens for someone from there. (I don't quite know the phonetic spelling on that.

“Naw-Linz”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do they also call Maryland “Mar-ee-land”?

That one is more noticeable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can we talk about Norfolk? 😂

My best friend and college roommate is from there! Nah-f*ck.

[Anonymous]

Virgin-yo

[Anonymous]

God I'm craving 1776 now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can we talk about Norfolk? 😂

My best friend and college roommate is from there! Nah-f*ck.

I am from there too and no, you don't say that. It's just nor-f*ck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m new to the area, and I’ve noticed a couple distinct pronunciations of “Virginia”.

I’ve noticed well-educated foreign-born people, with whom I tend to identify with more, tend to use the four-syllable pronunciation, whereas native born Americans tend to use the lazier (IMO) three-syllable pronunciation. I’ve noticed the prevalence of use of the three-syllable pronunciation isn’t really bound by SES lines, with people who I’d otherwise associate with being upper-class still using the three-syllable pronunciation.

Which is correct? As native-born Americans, which do you use? If you use the three-syllable pronunciation, why? Does it concern you or make you feel self-conscious that better-educated people might perceive you as a rube? Why does America tolerate such colloquialisms in language?

Are you concerned that your grammatical and vocabulary mistakes in the OP might cause better educated people to perceive you as a rube?

I apologize. American English is my seventh language.

No apology necessary. You seem very concerned about people being perceived as rubes, so I was wondering if you share that concern for yourself. Does someone who makes fun of others worry that others might make fun of them?

No, generally not. I seriously doubt anyone would ever mistake any member of my family for a rube, even if they knew nothing about us.