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Here we go again: I just spent 10 minutes on the phone, getting a consensus from the locals on the pronunciation of a local spot. This time, it was Mt. Pinos, where snow started falling, overnight. What’s the correct pronunciation? Keep reading. On TV, saying it right is as important as a newspaper reporter spelling it right. And I remember my journalism 101 teacher, Mr. Lynch, telling us “If readers see you can’t spell right, why should they trust anything else you report?” I owe it to you to get it right.
It’s tougher than it used to be to get 100% agreement on pronunciations. San Pedro should be San PAY’-droh, but the locals have always said San PEEH’-droh. Until the last 10 years. The Spanish pronunciation has crept back in.
There’s Rubidoux (RUE’-buh-doe), San Luis Obispo (san-lu-EES’ -or- san-LU’-iss, but never San Louie…), and San Jacinto… on which I’m still not sure there’s a consensus: some say YA’-sinto, others say HUH’-sinto.
But now, after four pleasant phone calls to to some nearby inns (in Lebec, Frazier Park, and Gorman), I feel reasonably sure of this — Mt. Pinos is known to all, not as PIN’-yose, but Mt. PYE’-nose.
I invite you all to visit my Facebook page and while you are on it, then write something. I promise to reply to all who wish to be a friend.
Thomas Bleming
HAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! Happy New Year, Kent!
Hey Kent, I am away from my office, however when I can get to a computer I will be visiting and adding my name to your Facebook page.
I too am an author, as well as an international photojournalist.
You can look me up on Google search.
Best wishes,
Thomas Bleming
Having grown up in the area, I would have never thought that the word “Pinos” would be the difficult one! Now I live in the NW where we have all kinds of linguistic potholes…”Oregon” (ORE-eh-gun), “Willamette” (will-A-met), and my personal favorite “Couch” (KOOtch).