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The New York Times covered the quandary many politicians face while on the campaign trail: how to properly pronounce a state’s name.
The Times used Nevada as an example; the difference between “Ne-VAH-duh” and “Ne-VAD-uh” could signal how in touch you are with your constituents.
Walter Wadiak, assistant professor of English, shared insights with the Times. “I honestly think a lot of the variation in pronouncing place names is about identity,” he said. “It’s a way of marking yourself as an insider and others as outsiders.”