Now that I think about it… I have numerous relatives in north central Louisiana, most (if not all) of them, pronounce it Lou-ease-ee-ana… Then again, as often as not, I hear it pronounced Lose-ee-ana… 
As for yours truly, I tend to pronounce it BOTH ways… And it really doesn’t seem to matter… Just sayin’…
So is it “New Orlins”, “New Or-leens”, or just “N’orlins”?
That’s nothing really special point about proper nouns–there’s plenty of common nouns not subject to typical English pronunciation rules. It’s just more common to see lots of variations in proper nouns, based on local pronunciations. My point was, though, that somebody never having seen “Iowa” before, given a crack at the name, is more likely to say “eye-oh-wuh” before “yo-wuh.” I mean, the pronunciations aren’t made from whole cloth, they are still (usually) based on the letters in the word, subject to local accents or interpretations.
Upon rereading your post, and contemplating past conversations with people from locales different from my own, I stand corrected, sir. :smack: 
IMHO…It seems to be the general consensus, that the “proper” pronunciation is that ,which pleases yourself**. Just sayin’… :rolleyes:
Ha ha…I can’t believe I opened up GQ to find an eight year old zombie with my name on it!!
Funny that you should post this here, but I’m in north central Louisiana. I believe all I’ve ever heard around here was “Lose-ee-ana,” at least from the natives.
So is it “New Orlins”, “New Or-leens”, or just “N’orlins”?
Chefguy, up in this part of the state, we pretty much say “New Orlins.” New Orleans natives (particularly those with a Cajun accent, say “N’awlins.” Newscasters, as you may have observed, think that “New Or-lee-ins” is the proper pronounciation, but that just ain’t right 
oops
A script?! The world is so much better since YouTube.
I remember Peter Jennings (a Canadian!) was partial to “Missour-ah”.
since we’re on the subject . . .
We like to listen to the old-time radio shows on satellite radio, and the old mysteries use the “Los Angeles” as in “triangle” pronunciation. When did that change? I know it’s “city of the angels” and that’s more of the Spanish pronunciation, isn’t it? It sounds OK when Jack Webb says it; when did it become the “j” sound?
People who say “Missoura” also say “Cincinnatta”
Are you sure he didn’t pronounce it “Missour, ehh?”
I wouldn’t say that, my mother in law is from Missourah, has 2 bachelors and a masters, and is the senior nurse in an orthopedic rehab hospital. She is also a degreed librarian [nurses in California make more than librarians.] She is one of 12 children, and the family farm did not get electricity until the late 50s, and did not have indoor plumbing until that time.
Country folk, yes. Redneck hick, no.
I’ve since pulled that video since I found another one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuAZa00alLY
Also, officially on the Simpsons, Missouri and Missoura are two different states, so I wonder which other state has been left out.
For the same reason some people say “die-uh-bee-tees” and others say “die-uh-beet-us”.
Oddly, I, my wife, and the overwhelming majority of people we knew and interacted with in real life for the first 50 years of our lives were born and grew up in Upstate New York, and only hear “New Yawk” as Hollywood actors trying to imitate a Brooklyn or Bronx accent, which itself was over 300 miles from where we lived.
Go, go, Mizzourah zombies!
It’s weirder than that, especially if you’re from “Mi’waukee, Wisgonsin”.
We swallow the C in WisConsin*, and I defy you to find a native that pronounces the L – say MILL-waukee and you’re obviously a tourist.
We don’t realize it until someone points it out, but it’s true.
My daughter at the age of four asked when we were going to ‘Mi’waukee’, and I lamented, “Oh, no, I don’t even live there anymore but I’ve still given our daughter an accent!”
*and what’s up with people who say “WESS’-consin”? Same people who say Ill-i-NOISE’, but at least that’s a letter that’s there… where does that E come from?
East Side of Stadium: M-I-Z
West Side of Stadium: Z-O-M-B-I-E-S
Reminds me of the time I deplaned in Hawaii. Anxious to learn how the natives pronounce their state, I asked the first guy I met (an elderly gentleman), how did he pronounce the name of his state, Hawai or Havai. He said, “Havai.” I thanked him. He replied, “You’re velcome.”