Yosemite

bunyip · Jul 31, 2019

Alan W. said:
Hey bunyip. The town of Yosemite around here is pronounced Yo-Se-Mite. So yall still aint got it right. Course there is another area called Ge-Nee-Vee thats spelt Geneva. Thats just the way it tis&#55357;&#56833;

We have a town called Colac Colac, the locals pronounce it Clack Clack, there is another town called Colac that is pronounced Colac, I'll leave you to figure it out because I can't.

Gary Fowler · Jul 31, 2019

bcp said:
Audio file here:
Yosemite | Definition of Yosemite at Dictionary.com

Wikipedia:
Yosemite National Park (/joʊˈsɛmɪti/ yoh-SEM-i-tee)

The name "Yosemite" (meaning "killer" in Miwok) originally referred to the name of a renegade tribe which was driven out of the area (and possibly annihilated) by the Mariposa Battalion. Previously, the area had been called "Ahwahnee" ("big mouth") by indigenous people.

Bruce

I did see a documentary on this once. The Indians were indeed called YO-See-Mite but the park has always been pronounced Yo-Sem-itty

EddieWalker · Jul 31, 2019

This discussion makes me think of a section of road on the drive there that has the big switch backs.

2LaneCruzer · Jul 31, 2019

This discussion makes me think of an old episode of "I Love Lucy", where she was rehearsing a TV commercial. The product was vitameatavegemin...and it was 40 proof. It took her a bit too long to get it right.

ericm979 · Jul 31, 2019

EddieWalker said:
This discussion makes me think of a section of road on the drive there that has the big switch backs.

That could be any of the roads in or out!

But you're probably thinking of the "new Priest grade" on 120 below Groveland (the west side). Old Priest grade is super steep, narrow and has very tight turns. I'm sure it was exciting on a wagon! It scares flatlanders in cars. The new bypass snakes up the scarp on some giant switchbacks and is much easier on RVs and log trucks. Locals take the old road if they can.

yoh-SEM-i-tee is how I have heard it here in California all my life.

EddieWalker · Jul 31, 2019

ericm979 said:
That could be any of the roads in or out!

But you're probably thinking of the "new Priest grade" on 120 below Groveland (the west side). Old Priest grade is super steep, narrow and has very tight turns. I'm sure it was exciting on a wagon! It scares flatlanders in cars. The new bypass snakes up the scarp on some giant switchbacks and is much easier on RVs and log trucks. Locals take the old road if they can.

yoh-SEM-i-tee is how I have heard it here in California all my life.

Thank you. I couldn't remember the name of it, but I sure do recognize it after googling it and looking at "images"

Diggin It · Jul 31, 2019

I stumbled on a road like that in West Virginnie. I'd look down over the cliff beside me and see a road, not realizing it was the same road I'd soon be driving.. The 'wide' spots ... maybe 30' from road to the uphill side of the cliff almost always had a mobile home squeezed in. Passed through one or two very small towns stacked along the hillsides. When I finally got to the bottom of the hill, I found the Ohio state line where it was suddenly nearly flat.

bunyip · Jul 31, 2019

Anyway you have solved my problem, I think, we were both right or both wrong

Wagtail · Aug 1, 2019

I suppose that a similar thing can be said about pronouncing the bird name "kookaburra".

Visitors to Aus pronounce the 'kook' as in kooky (crazy/odd), whereas Aussies pronounce the 'kook' as in 'cook' (prepare food).

:confused3: