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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

I know upper class, immigrant, non-native English speakers who say it that way. I imagine Virginia would get the 4-syllable treatment, but not the three.

What does upper class have to do with this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^also it's CHOCK-LIT
Stop calling it choc-o-late

Or CHAAAW-KLIT in certain NY neighborhoods.

Yes you are right. Maybe OP will go to these NY neighborhoods and tell them their native pronunciation is lazy. I would like that to happen very much.

[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. 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?

Why is Virginia in quotes? Is there some question concerning its existence?

[Anonymous]

The most educated among us pronounce Virginia as "Virgin Knee." Also, the capitol of California is actually pronounced "Sacrament Toe." You should do the same, or everyone will realize how uneducated you are.

[Anonymous]

What? Virgin Knee What? did I just read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The most educated among us pronounce Virginia as "Virgin Knee." Also, the capitol of California is actually pronounced "Sacrament Toe." You should do the same, or everyone will realize how uneducated you are.

are we being nice?

[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.

I’m surprised that someone with your experience and knowledge of languages would ask a question like this. Particularly one that implies a certain amount of ridicule of native speakers of a particular language.

Good lord, you don't really think that's true?
If so, would you care to buy my beachfront home in Iowa?

[Anonymous]

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?

Why is Virginia in quotes? Is there some question concerning its existence?

Yes, we're all concerned now that a lunatic is in office.

[Anonymous]

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?

Why is Virginia in quotes? Is there some question concerning its existence?

LOL. No, we question WEST Virginia's existence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ancestors go back to colonial VA.

It’s fur-gin-ya.

love this most.
Do they have a sofa on the front porch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve lived in Ohio, where you think you know how to pronounce the name of a city because you’ve seen it before in another country, but nope, it’s pronounced totally differently by locals.

Lima is LYE muh
Berlin is BUR lin
Russia is ROO she
Versailles is Ver SALES
Rio Grande is RYE oh grand
Cairo is CARE oh

I also attended a wedding in Bahama, NC, where it’s pronounced Buh HAY muh.

The correct pronunciation is however the locals say it.

Shall we do Louisiana and really blow OP out of the water?

[Anonymous]

Hey "my accent is English" person or persons...should we say Wor sess ter shire? Lolz.

[Anonymous]

OP, you are beyond insufferable. Hopefully just a troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

This

[Anonymous]

2nd pronunciation. 3 syllables