In news:864qv81je7.fsf@littledevil.internal.zobbo.org,
Ian J Cottee <ian@cottee.org> radiated into the WorldWideWait:
> JJD <jefdrab@newsguy.com> writes:
>
>>>> And scones.  Don't forget the scones.
>>>
>>> Would you provide a pronounciation guide for the foreign johnnies,
>>> Jeff? There's a good chap.
>>
>> What, and provide them with one of the ultimate clues to
>> Britishness? I should jolly well think not.  Foreign johnnies must
>> learn their place.
>
> It's not a guide to Britishness - it's a guide to sort out those
> that come from the south and those that come from the other bit
> with the good football teams (with apologies to Spitting Image).
> Which reminds me (getting back to the merkins) of an incident
> related to me by my friend's wife back in the UK.
>
> She was a professional flutist and decent pianist and was playing
> accompanying music at some auditions for a West End musical. An
> American girl came on stage and sang the Gershwins' "Let's call the
> whole thing off" (You like potato and I like potahto, you like
> tomato and I like tomahto etc). She sang the song flawlessly with
> one small exception - she used the American pronounciations
> everytime, rather missing the point of the whole song. She was
> somewhat confused as to why everyone burst into laughter at the end.
> Not in touch any longer so no way to gain more info on the
> incident. However, it made me smile when I heard it.

I'm afraid *you* missed the point. "Tomayto" is how almost the entire
US pronounces it; "Tomahto" is the NorthEastern way of speaking,
especially Mainers and Bostoners. Listening to anyone from up there
make a speech is guaranteed to bring a smile to normal American faces.