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adventures in english

Why are U.S. City & State Names so Weird?

4/5/2018

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Place names can be confusing to pronounce in English.  There are a couple of reasons for this.  First, the names of cities, states, rivers, etc. are often derived from words in other languages, like Native American languages, Spanish or French depending on who lived in these areas before they became part of the United States.  So their spelling and pronunciation can seem unpredictable, even to native speakers. 
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Let me give you some examples.  I grew up in Southern California, where lots of place names are Spanish.  This is common in California and the Southwestern part of the United States, such as in Nevada, Arizona, Texas, etc. You have probably heard of the following cities:  Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego.  But, how do you pronounce the smaller cities you haven’t heard like “La Jolla” and “Mission Viejo”?  Here’s a hint for you: in Spanish, J is pronounced like an English H and LL is pronounced like Y, so Viejo is Vee A ho, and Jolla is Ho ya.  Locals all know the pronunciation and never even think about it, since they hear these words all the time, but newcomers are bewildered. 


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A Smile goes a long way in american culture

12/21/2017

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I want to talk to you a little about one of the reasons you may be losing opportunities in the American world.  Surprisingly, it may not be your accent.  Sometimes, people who speak English really clearly and have only a minor accent tell me they need to improve their English.  When this happens, I am reminded that there may be an issue that goes beyond the spoken word.   People automatically gravitate towards others who are like them.  They feel comfortable with similar people and they trust them, since they share common values. 


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  • About
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  • Testimonials
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  • Privacy Policy
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