How Do You Pronounce This Word?

[cabinetman]

I was watching Auction Kings and they had up for auction a Calliope (musical instrument). Growing up I became accustomed to pronounce it totally different than they did on the show. I understand there can be two pronunciations. So, answer the poll if you will.

.

[Stytooner]

I pronounce it just like these guys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcWVL4B-4pI

[RAFlorida]

The second sounds about how I remember it.

It comes from Greece I think, and it seems that it had reference to 'beautiful voice' or something like that.
The Wikipedia has a good description on it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calliope_(music)

But it lacks in how it sounds, (the name and not the music).
And when were kids, that machine indicated the fair was in town!

[pelligrini]

I've always pronounced it like the first pick, but more like ka-lie-opee. No double L sound.

[herb fellows]

I've always pronounced it like the first pick, but more like ka-lie-opee. No double L sound.

+ 1, me also, that's why I checked 'other'.

[cwsmith]

1st choice for me. Ka-Lie-O-pee

But, "When in Rome, do as the Roman's do!" Right or wrong, it's the locals who hear your pronunciation that matters. (Sort of like telling a person how thier own name should be pronounced )

In Painted Post (NY) we have this huge annual celebration called "Colonial Days". Main instrument that you hear is the old-time "Calliope" which one of the local merchants owns and is the lead instrument of the huge parade.

One of the talented High School kids gets the honor of playing this instrument and every few years this honor gets passed on to his or her junior.

Every year, the forthcoming festivities is announced across the valley as the "player" begins to practice for the parade. That sound travels all over the village.

CWS

[cabinetman]

I've always pronounced it like the first pick, but more like ka-lie-opee. No double L sound.

I didn't intend it to sound like a double L. Sounds like the way you wrote it.

.

[Mildoc]

1st choice for me. Ka-Lie-O-pee

Yep. Try this site: http://www.howjsay.com/index.php?word=calliope

[gsmittle]

Actually, in the US, pronunciation depends on the instrument's usage. On land, in the circus, etc. it was pronounced the first way.

Mississippi River showboat captains pronounced it the second way. When not being played, the calliope was used to purify drinking water.

I did my Master's thesis on showboats, and after 22 years, I FINALLY can answer a question in my area of expertise!

g.

[cabinetman]

Actually, in the US, pronunciation depends on the instrument's usage. On land, in the circus, etc. it was pronounced the first way.

Mississippi River showboat captains pronounced it the second way. When not being played, the calliope was used to purify drinking water.

I did my Master's thesis on showboats, and after 22 years, I FINALLY can answer a question in my area of expertise!

g.

Leave it to a teacher. That's an interesting fact. Actually, I've never been on a "showboat", but I remember them from circuses and merry go round type rides...their sound was certainly hard to forget.

.

[annunaki]

Pronunciation

The pronunciation of the word 'calliope' has long been disputed. The Greek muse by the same name is pronounced /kəˈlaɪ.əpiː/ kə-LY-ə-pee, but the instrument was generally pronounced /ˈkæli.oʊp/ KAL-ee-ohp. A nineteenth century magazine, Reedy's Mirror, attempted to settle the dispute by publishing this rhyme:[4]

Proud folk stare after me,
Call me Calliope;
Tooting joy, tooting hope,
I am the calliope.

This, in turn, came from a poem by Vachel Lindsay, called "The Kallyope Yell," [sic][5] in which Lindsay uses both pronunciation

[eccentrictinkerer]

I'm a huge fan of everything "Mississippi River" ever since reading Mark Twain 55 years ago. (I've never lived further that three miles from the Mississippi).

The calliope (cally-ope) announced the arrival of the river boat to every town on its route.

http://www.bendermelodies.com/music/track25S.mp3

A riverboat captain that I befriended in my 'teens was very harsh when he chastised me for pronouncing it 'cal-i-o-pee'.

I love the sound!

[cabinetman]

I'm a huge fan of everything "Mississippi River" ever since reading Mark Twain 55 years ago. (I've never lived further that three miles from the Mississippi).

The calliope (cally-ope) announced the arrival of the river boat to every town on its route.

http://www.bendermelodies.com/music/track25S.mp3

A riverboat captain that I befriended in my 'teens was very harsh when he chastised me for pronouncing it 'cal-i-o-pee'.

I love the sound!

It's amazing what our exposure in life has been. When hearing the word pronounced only one way, and then finding out there is another way, is quite a revelation. I've never done a poll before on this word...so how would I know.

.

[chopnhack]

kahlee opi would be the greek pronunciation ;-)

[TB Roye]

I used the a sound rather that opie on the end. Like Kaliapi, might be a South Sacramento oki sound. All you midwesterner, East Coast people have accents anyway. Southerners and Texans well that is a different story.

Tom