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Category: Readers' Opinions

■ 21 November 2009 | 5:00 AM

The north vs. the south in 'nor'easter'

The high tide of the recent northeast storm has passed, and the sun is shining, but the word 'nor'easter' remains, and I guess it will continue to appear in print and on TV weathercasts. It was on the front page of the Nov. 15 edition of The Pilot in the caption of the photo of the huge beached vessel at Sandbridge.

The use of the word 'nor'easter' has been called a 'festering sore in today's marine and weather journalism.' I think it survives because it is apparently an irresistible example of fake authenticity and, as such, is often used in newspapers and by broadcasters (especially TV weather people).

It is not authentic, but it looks as if it is. I think it is supposed to make us feel that we are using the New England pronunciation, but I've read that New Englanders (real ones) avoid pronouncing the letter 'r' but do include the 'th' so the phonetic spelling might be 'notheastuh.'

But we are not New Englanders. In northeast North Carolina we used to say something spelled phonetically 'nawtheastuh,' but we avoided the 'r' sound also.

Anyway, every time I heard a weather report during the recent northeast storm I had to endure this 'nor'easter' thing. It was as irritating as when we used to hear George W. Bush pronounce nuclear as 'nukular.' We are pretty much spared that experience nowadays, but unfortunately, 'nor'easter' has replaced 'nukular' as the fingernails-on-the-blackboard experience for some of us.

I know I'm shouting into the wind here. I can hope only that someone someday might slip up and say on TV or write in The Pilot 'northeaster,' pronounced 'nawtheastuh.'

John Matthews

Hertford, N.C.

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Amen!

Submitted by northendlocal on Mon, 11/23/2009 at 9:14 pm.

My sentiments exactly. Nor'easter? Please!

Ha!!! Ha!! Ha!! Ha!!!

Submitted by festerDjester on Sat, 11/21/2009 at 10:17 am.

Would Sotheaster or Dixieeaster work??

I want the last 30 seconds

Submitted by adame20886 on Sat, 11/21/2009 at 9:24 am.

I want the last 30 seconds of my life back.

Simply amazing

Submitted by steveh3 on Sat, 11/21/2009 at 9:20 am.

what people can get worked up about and for what the Pilot editors consider a good letter.

The (civil) War of the Words

Submitted by msanders1409 on Sat, 11/21/2009 at 8:09 am.

Please tell me you are not referring to the correct pronunciation of a word based on dialect. Check your dictionaries; all pronunciations are referenced based on one's accent or lack thereof. Southerners and New Englanders are both correct in their pronunciation, as is everyone else who does not speak with a pronounced accent. Such foolishness over a word.

As opposed to a...

Submitted by ed baskins on Sat, 11/21/2009 at 7:44 am.

As opposed to a Sou'Wester, a stale breeze blowing in from the Perquimans River or a Nor'Wester, hot air infiltrating the area from the Northern Virginia region. Of course, I was told I live in Hampton Roads, but the last time I checked, Fort Wool is uninhabited.

Well...that depends on

Submitted by msanders1409 on Sat, 11/21/2009 at 8:13 am.

whether you are pronouncing it as "souwestuh" or "nawwestuh." I suppose I speak poorly if I say "good morning," as opposed to "gud mo'nin." Again, foolishness.