WI State Journal - Conklin: How do you say 'Ashwaubenon?' Ask 'Miss Pronouncer'

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FRI., SEP 14, 2007 - 6:17 PM

Conklin: How do you say 'Ashwaubenon?' Ask 'Miss Pronouncer'

By MELANIE CONKLIN
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Does it get on your nerves when national sportscasters say "WES-con-sin " during game day commentary?Jackie Johnson, who works for Wisconsin Radio Network, took matters into her own hands.

And she now is known by the name "Miss Pronouncer" after founding a Web site, www.misspronouncer.com, last year that features audio clips of thousands of names of Wisconsin towns, parks and prominent politicians and sports figures.

As a radio reporter, Johnson has compassion for anyone attempting to say "Ashwaubenon " or "Lake Butte des Morts " and she understands why broadcasters have dubbed Packer Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, simply "KGB. " Her site tells you how to navigate such verbal minefields and also provides fun Wisconsin facts and trivia.

Johnson still recalls a time years ago when she mispronounced "Chequamegon " on the air.

"That was a difficult one for me, " she admits. "I made that gaffe, but the advantage of being in radio is instant response. The phones started ringing immediately and I was able to correct myself right away on air. "

In the past two weeks, hits for misspronouncer.com have gone up six-fold. ...

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