tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635884225797829085.post2890765636152726988..comments2024-03-28T20:00:20.542-07:00Comments on SHADOW OF A DOUBT: This Day in HistoryKirkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635884225797829085.post-17707351968363066562018-03-27T17:20:26.969-07:002018-03-27T17:20:26.969-07:00Adam, I looked up the pronunciation on an online d...Adam, I looked up the pronunciation on an online dictionary as well as an old-fashion book dictionary I have at home, and the 'j' sound is the correct 21st century pronunciation. Yet, according to anything I can find on Elbridge Gerry (an interesting guy who may have been a step above the average politician; he fought to have the Bill of Rights included in the Constitution at a time when some better-known and more highly-esteemed Founding Fathers were against it) and his name was pronounced, as you said, Gary.<br /><br />So how did the pronunciation end up changing? I can only offer a theory, so here goes. No TV or radio back when this fellow lived, and not for a long time afterwards either. So you would only know his name from reading it in a book or newspaper, and then have to come up with a pronunciation yourself. If you knew someone named Gerry, the first letter of whose name was pronounced with a J, you might assume Elbridge's last name was pronounced the same way, as well as the word coined after him, gerrymander. Enough people make that mistake enough times, the lexicographers take note, and make it official. That's the best I can come up with. Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635884225797829085.post-63917803876624738052018-03-27T17:18:50.645-07:002018-03-27T17:18:50.645-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635884225797829085.post-29721010064248109812018-03-27T05:44:46.624-07:002018-03-27T05:44:46.624-07:00I always said it like Jerry-mander
instead of how...I always said it like Jerry-mander<br /><br />instead of how his name was called Gary-Mander<br /><br />that's probably whyAdamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08051255914419363819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635884225797829085.post-39897748287672700742018-03-26T08:08:06.058-07:002018-03-26T08:08:06.058-07:00Debra, what does it say about the office of Vice-P...Debra, what does it say about the office of Vice-President when was of its occupants' name becomes more well-known for a term implying political chicanery that occurred before he even made it that far? Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635884225797829085.post-81197600694279735992018-03-26T08:03:23.330-07:002018-03-26T08:03:23.330-07:00I didn't either, Mitchell. I just saw that it ...I didn't either, Mitchell. I just saw that it was the anniversary of the coining of the term "gerrymander" and did some quick research.Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635884225797829085.post-57307956994371058632018-03-26T08:01:11.706-07:002018-03-26T08:01:11.706-07:00Shady, I see last night 60 Minutes had its highest...Shady, I see last night 60 Minutes had its highest ratings in 10 years. And it didn't even follow a playoff game!Kirkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155991693956178030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635884225797829085.post-90414996449963546512018-03-26T07:56:38.864-07:002018-03-26T07:56:38.864-07:00Fascinating! I knew "gerrymandering" was...Fascinating! I knew "gerrymandering" was named for someone but didn't know any details.Debra She Who Seekshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01845703092794695023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635884225797829085.post-59458834748206538412018-03-26T04:53:41.065-07:002018-03-26T04:53:41.065-07:00If you had asked me who Madison's VP was or wh...If you had asked me who Madison's VP was or who Elbridge Gerry was, i would have had no clue!Moving with Mitchellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12954028272162285597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-635884225797829085.post-43770466453270387932018-03-26T04:51:18.992-07:002018-03-26T04:51:18.992-07:00Hi, Kirk!
Happy Stormy Monday! :) I can't wai...Hi, Kirk!<br /><br />Happy Stormy Monday! :) I can't wait to see what happens in the mid-terms. If ever there was a time and a good reason to vote across party lines, this be it.Shady Del Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03839935472941264414noreply@blogger.com