Isn't the city actually called on maps 'New Orleans', as in, two distinct words? By that measure, that's exactly as it should be pronounced; should people pronounce it "N'Orleans!" is when they'd need to review pronunciation.
What's the correct pronounciation of Havre de Grace, MD? If you pronounce that the way it looks, a) Americans will look at you and wonder how you make that sound in your throat, and b) Marylanders won't have any idea what town you're talking about even if you're standing in Havre de Grace at the time. Similar problems for Notre Dame. (If I've just seen either of those written, I have to remind myself to pronounce them like an Amerrk'n the next time I say them.)
OTOH some places have multiple pronounciations. For example, Bal'mer, Bawlmer, Ballym'r, Baltimor, Bawl-tee-more, and Bahmr are all pronounciations you'll hear from folks who live in Baltimore.
Well, that's rather my point - it's ridiculous to get angry that one is more 'correct' in such an instance, and insist that people have no idea how to pronounce such things. If so, I'd have a damn field day with all the horrible mutilisations that Americans make of towns with Welsh names, in this area.
Regardless, I think the case of 'New Orleans' is entirely different than 'Baltimore'.
Nope, for the same reason that Baltimore is pronounced 'Balmer' (or some variant) by people in that area. Or that New Hampshire (where I am from) is New Hampshaw.
You're answering 'nope', and yet I've only asked on question, which was "Isn't the city actually called on maps 'New Orleans', as in, two distinct words" (and it was rhetorical, but that's neither here nor there).
The vernacular of a region is not the only "correct: pronunciation of that regions place-names. As I said in a comment above, were that true, pretty much this entire portion of Pennsylvania would be doomed to learn Welsh in retribution for all the mutilating they've done via town names.
Oh, but the inability to pronounce things correctly ins't limited to Americans, or even English-speaking peoples. The inability to pronounce any word that isn't commonly used in ones own region is universal.
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OTOH some places have multiple pronounciations. For example, Bal'mer, Bawlmer, Ballym'r, Baltimor, Bawl-tee-more, and Bahmr are all pronounciations you'll hear from folks who live in Baltimore.
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Regardless, I think the case of 'New Orleans' is entirely different than 'Baltimore'.
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The vernacular of a region is not the only "correct: pronunciation of that regions place-names. As I said in a comment above, were that true, pretty much this entire portion of Pennsylvania would be doomed to learn Welsh in retribution for all the mutilating they've done via town names.
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It's two distinct words in the song, "House of the Rising Sun". :-Þ (I pronounce it three different ways depending on context.)
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