Hi there,
I'm new to this forum, a Westerner born and bred, but I've got grandparents from the north (Michigan) and grandparents from the South (Arkansas).
I've got a question about whether a Southerner--from Mississippi in particular--would say LEEV-ur or LEV-ur and EETH-ur or EYE-thur?
What do you say?
Thanks!
Alby
Southern pronunciation of "lever" and "either
- Slava
- Great Grand Panjandrum
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- Location: Finger Lakes, NY
I can't answer for Mississippi, but as a transplanted Nashvillian in Upstate NY, I'd go for both pronunciations. I can see myself using both, depending on the situation and the sentence structure.
There are those out there that would drop the final "r," though.
Where be our "Suthreners" to answer this one?
There are those out there that would drop the final "r," though.
Where be our "Suthreners" to answer this one?
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
- Slava
- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 8170
- Joined: Thu Sep 28, 2006 9:31 am
- Location: Finger Lakes, NY
I wonder how the Michigeese pronounce things, too.I grew up in Michigan (but haven't lived there since 1976). I say lee-vur. But I also say lev-er-uge. I don't know if this is just me, or typical for Michiganders.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
Re: Southern pronunciation of "lever" and "ei
Mississippi born, now living in a neighboring state...you hear it both ways by natives and imports alike.Hi there,
I'm new to this forum, a Westerner born and bred, but I've got grandparents from the north (Michigan) and grandparents from the South (Arkansas).
I've got a question about whether a Southerner--from Mississippi in particular--would say LEEV-ur or LEV-ur and EETH-ur or EYE-thur?
What do you say?
Thanks!
Alby
Most commonly heard LEEV- and EETH--.
Of course, your mileage may vary.
-
- Great Grand Panjandrum
- Posts: 2578
- Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 3:56 pm
- Location: Crownsville, MD
In thinking about it, I tend to say "LEE-ver" if it's a control of some sort ("Pull back on the LEEver to put the snow-blower in gear."), but "LEH-ver" I'm talking about the bar used with a fulcrum to move something large or heavy ("Get me a 4-by-4 to use as a LEHver to pull this stump out.").
Regards//Larry
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
-- Attributed to Richard Henry Lee
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