Saying Calgary says where you're from

In Saskatchewan, most people divide the name of Alberta's most populous city into two parts: Cal followed by Gary (spelled hairy).

“Calgary was the fastest growing city in Saskatchewan, Mr. Speaker,” Premier Scott Moe said in the provincial legislature, which sounds like a serious understatement.

Cal-gary.

LISTENING Calgary Saskatchewan Road:

Dorothy Hicks, who moved to Saskatchewan from Calgary when she was 15, said, “I've noticed that some people in Saskatchewan say Calgary, Cal-gary, but not all.”

“I'm just wondering why Saskatchewans would do that?”

He said that the people of the city, for example, look like Cal-gri.

LISTENING Calgary Alberta Road:

“Even people who live in (Saskatchewan) Calgary still call it Calgary. I don't understand.”

Hicks posed his question to a CBC podcast Good question, Saskatchewan.

LISTENING Why do Saskatchewans pronounce Calgary wrong?

Jessie Stewart, associate professor of linguistics at the University of Saskatchewan, said you have to look at the origin of a name to uncover different pronunciations.

Calgary is a Scottish Gaelic word brought to Canada by James MacLeod, who suggested that the Canadian city be named after Calgary Castle on the Isle of Mull on the West Coast of Scotland.

“So when you introduce a word into English, it often wants to fit into the English sound system so that English speakers can say it without trying to make foreign sounds that they're uncomfortable with. Stewart said.

SEE Why people in Saskatchewan say Calgary differently:

Over time, the name takes on a new sound, Stewart said, and the more you say the name, the shorter it becomes.

“If you live in Calgary and use that word all the time, you might shorten that syllable and end up with cal-gri,” Stewart said.

The story continues

According to Stewart, the pronunciation is also correct.

“Language is fun to fight, but ultimately there is no right answer.”

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