How to Pronounce "properly"

[meboriqua at aol.com]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., Amanda Lewanski <editor at t...> wrote:

 My reactions to varied pronunciations
> are mixed, since I'm anal and like things done correctly, but as a
> linguist I am striving to be descriptivist (except in the case of
> "nucular" and "real-a-tor," which are Big Ol' Push Buttons for me).>

I think 'anyways' is the word that drives me nuts (not that it's a 
pronunciation issue, but still).  "Nucular" is a good one, too, 
though.  I don't even think I know how to say it like that.  Teaching 
inner city kids in the Bronx has made me more relaxed on 
pronunciation.  I can't control myself with spelling and grammar 
mistakes, though.  I've had students rewrite essays 7-8 times before 
accepting them.  I'm lucky my kids like me as much as they do, 
considering some of the kids who are asked to rewrite their essays 
have criminal records.

I always know when I'm answering a business call because my last name 
is always mispronounced.  It's a good thing we screen our calls.
 
> 
In Texas we use "coke" as a eponym, a generic word for all fizzy 
carbonated drinks. If someone tells me they want a coke, I ask what 
kind (Dr. Pepper, Big Red, Coke itself, etc.). "Pop" is a popsicle or 
a variety of music. "Soda" is a wonderful confection made with ice 
cream.>

Isn't that a general Southern thing?  Either way, if you ask for a 
Coke in NYC, a Coca Cola is what you'll get.  

If we are getting at all into accents here, I used to sound a lot like 
Fran Drescher ("The Nanny"), and I can put the Coffee Talk Lady to 
shame with my Long Island accent when I want to, being from a Long 
Island town that Jewish people accross the country have heard of.

--jenny from ravenclaw, who no longer says "cawffee" for 
coffee*********************************************