How do you pronounce the name "Lake Pushaw"?
September 20, 2007 2:19 PM Subscribe
How do you pronounce the name of "Pushaw Lake," in Maine?
Push-aw afaik.
What a useless answer. "As far as I know" implies it's a wild-ass guess, which the poster is perfectly capable of making herself. The poster is looking for someone who is either from that part of Maine or knows someone from that part of Maine who actually knows how the name is pronounced. Why is that so hard to understand?
posted by languagehat at 3:36 PM on September 20, 2007
What a useless answer. "As far as I know" implies it's a wild-ass guess, which the poster is perfectly capable of making herself. The poster is looking for someone who is either from that part of Maine or knows someone from that part of Maine who actually knows how the name is pronounced. Why is that so hard to understand?
posted by languagehat at 3:36 PM on September 20, 2007
From my various experiences in listening to my Maine friends and relatives, I believe it would be pronounced "puh-shaaw". Note the extended "a". However, it might fall under local pronunciation guidelines and thus could be unintelligible once spoken by a true Downeaster.
For instance, the name of my island is "Chebeague". Most people pronounce it "Sheh-beeg". However, it's really pronounced "Shuh-big". And people laugh it you if you pronounce it like a land-lubber.
posted by nursegracer at 4:07 PM on September 20, 2007
For instance, the name of my island is "Chebeague". Most people pronounce it "Sheh-beeg". However, it's really pronounced "Shuh-big". And people laugh it you if you pronounce it like a land-lubber.
posted by nursegracer at 4:07 PM on September 20, 2007
languagehat: Push-aw afaik.
What a useless answer. "As far as I know" implies it's a wild-ass guess, which the poster is perfectly capable of making herself. The poster is looking for someone who is either from that part of Maine or knows someone from that part of Maine who actually knows how the name is pronounced. Why is that so hard to understand?
Good god, can you relax?
I grew up in the Canadian province closest to Lake Pushaw. That is how I have pronounced it for 30+ years. It is possible that my family and I have always pronounced it incorrectly. Unlike many I prefer to leave open the possibility that I am not 100% correct 100% of the time.
posted by loiseau at 6:02 PM on September 20, 2007
What a useless answer. "As far as I know" implies it's a wild-ass guess, which the poster is perfectly capable of making herself. The poster is looking for someone who is either from that part of Maine or knows someone from that part of Maine who actually knows how the name is pronounced. Why is that so hard to understand?
Good god, can you relax?
I grew up in the Canadian province closest to Lake Pushaw. That is how I have pronounced it for 30+ years. It is possible that my family and I have always pronounced it incorrectly. Unlike many I prefer to leave open the possibility that I am not 100% correct 100% of the time.
posted by loiseau at 6:02 PM on September 20, 2007
Yeah, sorry, I really hate "I don't really know but here's a guess" pseudo-answers, and you got the brunt of it. But you must admit it would have been clearer to say "I grew up in the Canadian province closest to Lake Pushaw. That is how I have pronounced it for 30+ years." rather than "Push-aw afaik."
posted by languagehat at 6:29 PM on September 20, 2007
posted by languagehat at 6:29 PM on September 20, 2007
Two things you might try. Contact the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and ask them. Or, contact one of the House of Representatives members from that area.
posted by JanetLand at 5:43 AM on September 21, 2007
posted by JanetLand at 5:43 AM on September 21, 2007
I grew up in Bangor and I can tell you that people in the area refer to it as "Push - aww"
(As in "push a cart", and "awww, that's too bad")
posted by mbatch at 10:27 AM on September 21, 2007
(As in "push a cart", and "awww, that's too bad")
posted by mbatch at 10:27 AM on September 21, 2007
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posted by loiseau at 2:21 PM on September 20, 2007