aTypical Joe: a gay New Yorker living in the rural South
Saturday, July 23, 2005
Windows Vista
Guest post by basil.
So Microsoft has gone and named the new version of Windows ”Vista." Well, isn’t that special!
I’m wondering how different areas will handle the name. You see, as Joe is, I’m certain, aware, in certain parts of Georgia, some folks pronounce things differently.
I’m from southeast Georgia, and the major impact on the way we pronounce words is simply our accents. But other parts of Georgia have their own regional pronunciations of some words or names.
You see, Georgia is a fairly good-size state. While 20 states are larger, all those are west of the Mississippi. In the eastern U.S., Georgia is the largest state. And fairly spread out. And it shows in the language.
I work in Columbus, which is about as far west as you can get and still be in Georgia. There’s a town near here called ”Buena Vista.” Only it’s pronounced “BYOO-nu VISS-ta” and not “BWAY-nah VEES-tah” like you might expect.
And, around here, families with the name “Jordan” pronounce it “JER-dun” and not “JORR-dun.” In southeast Georgia, and most of Earth, it’s “JORR-dun.” A former sports announcer around here used to drive me crazy when he called Michael Jordan, Michael “JURR-dun.”
Oh, in central Georgia, closer to where Joe lives, there is Houston County. Only they pronounce it “HOWSS-tun” and not “HYOO-stun.” Since Georgia predates Texas, I’m not sure which is technically correct. I guess, like most things, it depends on where you are.
And, some people call pecans “pih-KAHNZ” and others “PEE-kanz.”
Now, to be sure, Georgia isn’t the only place that pronounces things differently, at least in some areas, but it certainly has its share of regional pronunciations.
I’m expecting to be standing in Circuit City one day next year and hear some good-ole-boy asking one of the salesmen if they have “the new Winders VISS-tuh.”
I can hardly wait.
Take me home
The team has developed its Tiger-powered customized Touareg car (dubbed “Dora") using Mac OS X technologies… Power Mac G5s running OS X inside the car control electronic pistons and belts to control the steering wheel, brake and gas pedals, and gear shifter.
In order to navigate to a destination, Dora follows a series of GPS waypoints, while an array of sensors--radar, video cameras, sonars and lasers--check terrain and assess likely obstacles.
The 40 semifinalists had to prove their self-controlled vehicles could navigate themselves through a narrow 200-meter course that included turns and randomly-placed obstacles.
I told you so.
