But...the Appalachians stretch from Newfoundland to central Alabama, so it only makes sense that within that vast area, there are going to be different pronunciations. Is one region's pronunciation more correct than another's? For what it's worth, I grew up in the portion of it more commonly known as the Berkshires (western MA) and grew up calling them the Appa LAY chins. I could no more say Appa lah chins, than I could say po TAH toe. . And for people like us who don't have the eastern MA accent (the western part of the state has an entirely different accent than the eastern part), it's Wuhster. Wustah just couldn't come out of my mouth sounding like anything other than someone trying to imitate a "Boston" accent. So although Wustah is the correct pronunciation for someone from that city, Wuster is just as correct for someone from elsewhere, if you catch my drift here!

Is there a reason why this thread from 2007 was renewed?

Lee Ann

I guess someone needed to set us straight about Carolina. I live in Charlotte, probably longer than Dean has been alive, and agree on the Appalatchin pronunciation, but I say, "down heah in Carolina".
As for the Berkshires being the "Appalachians", that a bit of a stretch. What are you gonna do about the Poconos and all. SO you can pronounce it as you wish. And it isn't "lah"--it is the "a" as in "latch" as Dean said--short 'a'.
As for John Edwards, he was born in the Appalatchins.

Is there a reason why this thread from 2007 was renewed?>

why not - it has sparked an interesting debate - I never understand those who carp about old threads coming up and then folks respond new - what difference does it make to you?

And on a recent basketball broadcast I did here Dick Vitale, the mouth, continually refer to North Caroline as "Carolina" and he weren't talking about those Cocks either.

It isn't a stretch at all Gretchen. It's a chain of mountains that runs from Newfoundland to Alabama. Same mountains. The Appalachian trail goes right through the Berkshires. Don't take it from me (as I know you did not. )...Google and embrace the new knowledge.

Well, the Poconos are considered part of that vast Appalachian chain in some geographic circles, depending on your view of the Allegheny Plateau, and the Appalachian Trail certainly runs through PA...where it's pronounced with the "lay" in the middle.
And not that Wikipedia is the be-all/end-all, but they put the "lay" pronunciation first: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ppalachian.ogg

Map of the Appalachians: http://geography.howstuffworks.com/u...palachians.htm

Well, you are correct about the trail. Forgot about that. But it is obviously pronounced differently in different parts of the country.
I probably do pronounce "Appalachia" with a long "a" but "Appalachian" with a short "a".

Actually, I take that back. I use the short a all the time.

>>why not - it has sparked an interesting debate - I never understand those who carp about old threads coming up and then folks respond new - what difference does it make to you?

Ellen - you got too much time on your hands! Why worry about what other folks do? If they want to do why rain on their parade?

>>Ellen - you got too much time on your hands!<red>OMG</red> - Talk about the pot calling the kettle . . .

GMTA, janisj.

Lee Ann