... if you say your name is pronounced "smith" but spelled "jones," that's the way I'll pronounce it.
Likewise with location names, most places may have no idea why the name originally chosen. And the old-timers certainly knew how
they wanted pronounced
and spelt! If you don't agree with them, that's your prerogative. But absolutely no one has the right to tell either the family or the town/village/city that they are "wrong." Just because a word/name is spelled the same as another, even a location or a famous (notorious!) person, doesn't mean that it was named after that location or person. And, even if you can prove that it was, it is 'owned' by that person/family or location inhabitants, not you or me.
I agree with all of the above. My issue is not whether or not to be polite, (where do you stand on that one?) but whether or not it is correct. The mere repetition of an error does not make it a hit.
I'll humo(u)r the locals, but when not in their company, I'll revert to the correct way.
Well, when I go to the capital city of another state, it is usually to visit the capitol building. I thought about checking which was correct to refer to the city, but I was lazy. I meant the city, Pierre. I'll have to try to remember the memory tricks. Thanks!
But, Abe Lincoln was also a member of the Illinois state legislature.
