$100 to whoever can answer why

[NY Disney fan]

Why is Arkansas not pronounced like Kansas? I know one begins with Ark- but...

 

[Theta]

To whomever...

 

[thedonduck]

Why is Arkansas not pronounced like Kansas? I know one begins with Ark- but...

I do believe it has to do with the translation/pronunciation made from two different Native groups into French!

 

[happygirl]

To whomever...

Have no fear the spelling police has arrived.

OP I think you answered your own question

 

[Elainey]

Actually in Kansas Arkansas (River) is pronounced Ar-Kansas. However, the state is pronounced Ark-an-saw--not sure why the difference.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I spent a night in Arkansas City, KS once. Friend who lives in the area told me I was pronouncing it wrong when I called it Arkansaw City

 

[Combos]

don't know about the enunciation, but it is the only (US) state name that encapsulates the full name of another state.

 

[happygirl]

http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question25938.html

 

[Rylee]

Why is Arkansas not pronounced like Kansas? I know one begins with Ark- but...

Were you watching the history channel today?

 

[NY Disney fan]

http://www.funtrivia.com/askft/Question25938.html

Thanks. If I actually had $100 I would give it to you.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The different pronunciations are by Act of Congress. I know I have seen detailed information on this, but I cannot provide a citation.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

To whomever...

OT: I think OP is right.

"Whom" is a pronoun used as a direct object, and that includes being used as the object of a preposition: "To whom did you give the $100 dollars?"

But in this case, the object is not the pronoun, but rather the clause "X can answer why is Arkansas not pronounced like Kansas". Replace "X" with any other pronoun. You would use "He" or "She"... not "Him or Her".

Take the sentence: "Who can can answer why Arkansas is not pronounced like Kansas?" "Who" is correct.

"$100 to whoever can answer why Arkansas is not pronounced like Kansas".

 

[nd5056]

Just like here, Chicago's own people pronounce it starting with "SH" while many New Yorkers used to pronounce it with "CH"...

.

 

[SSDonut]

Well, my almost 12-year-old DD pronounces it: Ar-kan-Sauce. She has known for a few years now that this is wrong, but she "just likes to say it that way," and it always makes me smile.

 

[Stitchfans]

Just like here, Chicago's own people pronounce it starting with "SH" while many New Yorkers used to pronounce it with "CH"...

.

Exactly. And do not forget our silent S on the end of Illinois.

Never thought about that though, OP, very interesting.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Exactly. And do not forget our silent S on the end of Illinois.

Sufjan Stevens has an album about the state of Illinois. The album is officially called Illinois, although the album cover shows:

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Actually in Kansas Arkansas (River) is pronounced Ar-Kansas. However, the state is pronounced Ark-an-saw--not sure why the difference.

My in-laws all live in Kansas. For the most part, they all just call it Ark City an that takes care of the confusion. My advice is to just do that from now on to avoid the same situation over and over.

The different pronunciations are by Act of Congress. I know I have seen detailed information on this, but I cannot provide a citation.

My husband (again, from Kansas) told me that Arkansas actually has it in their constitution how the state is supposed to be pronounced. I asked if Kansas had anything about proper pronunciation and he said it didn't. I asked him if that meant I should call his home state "Kan-saw". That got me quite the look.