2006-07-20 23:43:25 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Stella hints at the explanation. That is, blame it on the French!
"Arkansas" was a French name for a river, created by adding "Arc" to the French version of the name of an Indian tribe in the region.
http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/markansa.html
The French dominated the lower Mississippi in the years preceding the Louisiana Purchase, and their influence continued not only in Louisiana but in nearby Arkansas. This included French place names and retaining the French pronunciation of the river (and so the state).
http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=2383
http://www.arkansasheritage.org/people_stories/europeanamericans/french.asp
The territory of "Kansas" --based the same French from Indian name-- did not have the same sort of French influence. When it was settled years later by Americans, the name was quickly Anglicized to the form we know today. (Kansans also pronounce the RIVER name as "Ar-KAN-zus".)
http://www.cimarronkansas.net/arkansas.htm
Arkansas, on the other hand, was determined that the pronunciation of their state name would NOT be changed, and even passed a law to that effect.
http://www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=136&languageId=1&contentId=15538
2006-07-22 04:21:09 · answer #1 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have a freind of mine from arkansas, and she always gets upset if I say it in the wrong way..I guess it's because they want everyone to say it in a french way, so it's not like kansas!
2006-07-21 06:57:03 · answer #2 · answered by ѕтєℓℓα3χ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the Arkansas state legislature changed the pronounciation to what it is, to make it different. Long time ago, and they've recently debated changing it back.
2006-07-21 06:49:12 · answer #3 · answered by fishing66833 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey! what if Kansas is really "cans-a$$", then would Arkansas be like "Our-cans-a$$"? :)
2006-07-21 06:48:18 · answer #4 · answered by High On Life 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
coz, kansas is kansas and arkansas is arkansas
2006-07-21 06:51:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's pronounced in a French-like fashion, so it may be because it could have a "French root" in it's pronounciation.
But that's just a guess.
2006-07-21 06:48:02 · answer #6 · answered by J.D.S. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
always thought it was "c a n 's - a s s"
from Tex Are Can Na
2006-07-21 06:47:32 · answer #7 · answered by shazam 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
hmm, not sure. we could check out my sources in "Con-nect-i-cut"
2006-07-21 09:15:35 · answer #8 · answered by tkdeity 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋