cfiaime@ihnp4.UUCP (Jeff Williams) (09/21/83)
It is interesting that the pronunciation of Louisville has made it to the net. I was down there in 1980, and this very question came up. A friend and I were walking near our hotel, and he asked how to pronounce the name of the town. Say I, "Well, it was named for King Louis (Loo-iee) of France, so it should be called "Loo-iee-ville". Well, he said, "It is spelled "Lewis-ville". The locals, we were soon to agree, pronounced it "Lou-a-vle", which clearly made no sense. So, being inquisitive, we stopped at a restaurant, and asked a young lady who worked there, "Would you pronounce the name of this place, and take it slowly so we can understand it." Whereupon she answered, "Sure, Bur-gur-King". So, Louisville is pronounced "Burger King". Afraid to sign my name, but someone had to do it! Jeff Williams Bell Labs - Naperville