Not only that, but Arkansas is pronounced differently depending on if you mean the state (“AR-kan-saw”) or the river (“Ar-KAN-sas”). So there you go.
Lest anyone forget Marseilles, Illinois (pronounced locally as “Mar-sales”)
Count me also as one who thinks Chicago should be pronounced (Sha-caw-go) and not (She-kaaah-go).
The “S” in Illinois is pronounced exactly like the “S” in the name of the state of Arkansas.
What? No they aren’t I’ve lived in two states through which the Arkansas River runs, Arkansas, where I grew up, and Colorado, where I live now. In both places, it is pronounced “AR-kan-saw.” I’ve heard that in Kansas they pronounce it to rhyme with their own state, but I’ve never heard it actually said that way.
There are regional dialects and such, sure, but that doesn’t apply to proper nouns. If someone named Jorge pronounced his name “jorj”, it would be rude to say “Dude, you’re supposed to pronounce it ‘hor-hay.’ Don’t you even know how to pronounce your own name?” Sorry, no. Your regional variation doesn’t fly. Jorge knows his own name.
Similarly, place names have a standard pronunciation. The S in Illinois is silent not only because it’s a French name, but because that’s how it’s pronounced, period.
Other random guys on the internet:
Tell the linguists hi from me, if they want to reach me, I’ll be on my Eye-talian vacation!
Isn’t this supposed to be the hugs ‘n’ unicorn sparkles forum? 
No. From an objective linguistic standpoint, there is no such thing as a “standard” pronunciation. There may be the most common pronunciation, but that doesn’t mean that another dialect’s is necessarily less valid.
We’re talking about the first vowel, not the last consonant. Please do try to keep up. Were this a discussion of whether or not the s is silent, I’d absolutely agree with you. But this is a case of an actual vowel shift, not some guy who’s only seen “Illinois” written down and just took a stab at how to say it.
Until you realize that dictionaries only provide the most common mainstream pronunciation(s), you have no business discussing linguistics.
You’ll notice that I didn’t once call anyone a naughty name.
Could be worse; y’all could be living in Missourah.
Or Ioway.
Well, I always thought the Chicago part of the state had a funny accent because they are busy sucking all the tax dollars out of us downstaters. You know, all that hoovering interfers with the vocal chords. That, and being a Cubs fans.
cubby fans stink. No silent “s” included, Sox fan here.
Also, us 7-county people consider anyone west of 39, and south of 80 to be ‘downstate’. All y’all dress funny and stuff.
Shot From Guns, I’m sorry for not being a leengwist and only being dumb enough to live in the state, and seeing it spelled out on a written page. I will stop trying to correct peepul and be as much of a reegunal pronunceeator as I can in the fewtour.
I bow to your incredibly soupearior brayneeness.
Posts 19, 20, and 23 were discussing the final consonant.
The pronunciation I hear most regularly is actually a bit between “ill” and “ell.” A linguist probably could explain the sound better, but it’s definitely not the sound in the name “Ellen.” I think you’re just objecting to a regional pronunciation tendency that also makes the word “itch” come out surprisingly close to “etch.”
It is easy to remember the right way to say it, because the people of the state are ill and annoying.
Exactly. It’s part of the accent. The /ɪ/ sound is just more open, and thus closer to /ɛ/. We have the same problem around here, where set and sit sound the same to people who aren’t from around here.
Read it and weep. Also hear it and weep. “She’s crawfish in the swampy lands, the milk-sick and the shakes”
Lookee at a 150-year-old folk song?
Look how the title is spelled. And also the lyrics. Chicago is well known for its honest and virtuous people??? Phhhhhht! And 150 years ago, it was even worse than now!!