Growing up, we always said "appa-latchin." Somewhere along the way I picked up "appa-layshin." Probably from being around all those Northerners in Florida for fifteen years or so. I sometimes revert, though, now that we're back.

This reminds me of the pronunciation of Louisville, TN. Growing up it was pronounced lu-i-vil, like Louisville, KY. Now, many people seem to pronounce it like lewisville.

Just tell someone who says "Appa-lay-shun" or some other Yankeeism that, if you persist, I'll throw an apple at'cha.

Even after 30 years in Massachusetts, I use '-latch-', and let me tell you I'm pretty unique in that up here.

Bizgrrl, I was only in Lakemoor for three years (plus some summers during college), so take this with a grain of salt, but I never heard anything but 'lewisvul'. I do have fond memories - despite (because of?) way too much to drink - of a graduation party at the Woods' lake house in Louisville.

Liberty and justice for all.

My home

I grew up in Oak Ridge, with West Tennessee parents, and I have always said the "Appa-lay-shun" version. When I hear the Appa-Latcha, it just sounds funny.

8 years ago, I moved to North Knoxville, off Dante Road. I pronounced it Dante, as in Dante's Inferno (SP?)"Dawn-Tey"... I am now told it should be prounced "Dain-tee". Brother in law is so southern, it comes out as one syllable.

Which is it?

Dante is pronounced without the "t", sort of like the name Danny. Corryton is pronounced with an added "g" - Cor-ring-ton.

Only Yankees use a long "a" in Appalachian. I've been arguing with my Oregon born, Cornell educated spouse about this for years. Oh, and Colbert is from South Carolina, so he knows how to say it.

Then there is LaFollette. Some say Lay Flat, some La Fo Lay.

We have a new Lifestar pilot who sounds Australian and it's fun to listen to him struggle with our cities and towns.

Visit us at:

The Home

Dont this here mountain range go from New York to Alabama?

It aint a yankee/southern thang.
It's a hillbilly thang.

So like the folks from Sneedville say

We all from..Over Home.

45 years ago my Dad was traveling south Georgia.

Ask the feller at the gas station..how far was
Albany?

Well you get on the highway & go north till
you hit New York & ask 'em how to get to
the capital.

But Albenny..GEORGIA..is about 10 mile down the road.

My favorite is the way WDVX DJ pronounces Sevierville: "Ser-veer-vul" with the added "r" in the first syllable.

Big pet peeve: pronouncing "suite" like "suit" instead of "sweet." There's an "e" on the end of it for a reason.

I also hate it when people refer to this section of the state as "eastern Tennessee" instead of "East Tennessee." In Kentucky it's "eastern Kentucky" but here it's just "East."