2006-08-18 19:54:44 · 20 answers · asked by A$#!ey 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Simple answer -- 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
2006-08-18 20:41:34 · answer #1 · answered by bruhaha 7 · 5⤊ 2⤋
This Site Might Help You.
RE:
Why does most of America pronounce Arkansas = Are-Khan-Saw and Kansas is pronounced Kan-Sass????
2015-08-06 03:46:12 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How To Pronounce Arkansas
2016-12-08 14:59:20 · answer #3 · answered by harrow 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Arkansas Pronunciation
2016-10-04 05:29:33 · answer #4 · answered by mangini 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in North West Arkansas myself. And it is pronounced Ark-an-saw. It is how the word splits like with Can-sas
2006-08-26 12:52:29 · answer #5 · answered by Don K 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Kansas is actually a mispelling of the Kanzas, a tribe of Indians in the area.
2006-08-25 09:47:15 · answer #6 · answered by sir_galahad_ks 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
It just depends on what part of the United States one is from. It's an accent thing.
2006-08-26 14:08:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
If you live in Kansas, Are - Kansas is pronounced AreKansas. :)
2006-08-25 20:27:29 · answer #8 · answered by LNZ 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
because people in Kansas would be upset if The arkansasians(people from arkansas- what are they called?!?) started calling it "Our-Kansas" or "Are-Khan-Sass" as you would put it.
2006-08-25 10:34:41 · answer #9 · answered by n8van2 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I don't think anyone has an answer for that. To me it's
Ar--Kansas
2006-08-26 12:47:27 · answer #10 · answered by AL 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋