How to Speak 'Scansin

(last updated .12-29-2009) - Why is this page on this Music site?

Originally created by Sue Delrow & Caryn Cain - **
[Speak 'Scansin]

Why this page is called "Speak 'Scansin"

The "ah" sound in Wis-cahn-sin, becomes more of a short "a" sound as in cat. When saying the word Wisconsin, one forms the W with one's lips but never fully articulates it. What is heard by the listener is a very soft "Wuh" sound followed by a hard "Scansin." Hence the page name.

In certain European ethnic pockets of Wisconsin, you'll hear some of the following colloquialisms and pronunciations:
Reader Input

How to pronounce English words in 'Scansin.

"Folk Library Index" 'Scansin Reader Input
          This historical page previously appeared at the defunct Cheese State Mall Web site,   http://www.cheesestatemall.com/scansin.html  and   http://www.cheese-state.com/scansin.html  (last updated there ca. October 1999). It was not installed at their new domain: http://www.cheesestate.com/, and the current owners of that domain didn't know anything about this page. It was too important to be off-line permanently, so I put it back on-line.
          The above page was installed on my domain on 7-15-2005 after being off-line for awhile. Nothing above by the original authors has been edited or changed in any way. [Exception: on 12-29-2009, all submitter's E-Mail addresses were replaced by "anonymous".] This new section is for comments, additions and/or corrections received since 7-15-2005. Note: all submissions must be G-Rated for all ages, or they will not be added here. No names or E-Mail addresses of submitters will be included unless I have written permission to do so.
      03-29-2007: When I was a kid in Ashland and Washburn, adults used the word "around" instead of "about." I heard my grandfather ask a grocer for "around a pound uh round steak."
      My paternal grandfather (French background) called potatoes "spuds" or "budaduhs."
      Rhubarb was always called "pie plant."
      09-17-2007: "Pop", meaning "soda"--not used in Milwaukee area. Outside of Milwaukee, perhaps; I heard "soda" in Madison, but "pop" in Steven's Point. "Pop" is used almost exclusively in the Twin Cities.
      My wife grew up in several places far away from here and settled in Minneapolis, but still has some Antigo-isms, courtesy of her parents. For example, I say "milk", but she and her mother say "melk", and "warm" rhymes with "arm" (making it closer to the German pronunciation). Not in my case. Or, "come by me", meaning, "come visit me" or "come sit next to me". This is most likely a German influence, "bei uns" (also in Czech, "u nas").
      "Bubbler" may only be Southeastern WI. The Bubbler is a product made by Kohler, in Kohler, WI, north of Milwaukee.
      I've been called, by a younger friend in the Twin Cities, a "'Sconie", pronounced "skAHnee", obviously a play on how we pronounce Wisconsin.
      Something that could be added, that is perhaps just Milwaukee: we don't have "dental appointments" or "dentist's appointments", we have "a dental"; e.g., "I have my dental Tuesday morning." My sister (who is 32) still lives in Milwaukee and says this.
      04-28-2009: I came across the word "tree" that is often used for "three" and that reminded me so much of my grandfather. It then reminded me of the word "terlit", which he used when referring to the "toilet".
      "Tirty" for "thirty" is another one.
      Possible usage: "Geeez! He musta fallin' da terlit. He's been in der fer tirty tree minutes already hey!"
      07-05-2009: I don't know what degenerate came up with this list, but it is a complete insult to Wisconsin - pronounced with an 'o' for those who can't read. Take that crap down and if you actually live in Wisconsin like I have all my life, you should be ashamed.
Sincerely,
Disgusted by that insulting trash
      Webmaster's comment: Growing up in Illinois, I never heard of Sheepshead, a Bubbler, Uff-da, a bottle of Pop, or getting my hairs cut, that is, until I moved here in 1966. Louisiana's Cajun is a mixture of French and English. Some of these localisms are likewise derived from Wisconsin's varied German, Eastern European, and Scandinavian proud heritages, which no one should be ashamed of.
      Regional words and pronunciations are everywhere. When I was in the Army there was a guy named Carter, from Boston. He pronounced his name, Ca'-ta. When people couldn't understand him, he spelled it for them, c-a-ah-t-e-ah.
      ** 11-04-2009: [from Sue Delrow] Doug - had to laugh when I found the 'speak 'scansin' page. I was the author, along with Caryn Cain of Oshkosh (at the time) - and see you're from Oshkosh, too!
      We were talking at work about some 'scansin sayings, and on a whim I decided to see if could find the old page in the 'way back machine' - but found your page instead!
      In fact, about 10 or more years ago, I did a radio interview on Thanksgiving morning on WI Public Radio about 'speaking 'scansin' after someone on their staff had found our original page.

[12-08-2009 Webmaster's note: I now have the author's permission for this page to remain on this site until further notice.]

      12-17-2009: "Ahh what da eh!" - clean version of "Oh what the hell!" or also means "why not?" Usage: Eh! ya Commin' to da bars to come watch da Packers? Ahh what da eh! Dat dont sound like a bad idea ya know?
      12-29-2009: Removed all names and contact information for all submitters, both for since this page was installed here, and also from the original page [see italics], except for those who have given me specific written permission to use their name.

Known links to this page: (Home Page - Link Page). Thank You.

URL: http://www.folklib.net/history/scansin.shtml
Please send additions and/or corrections to Doug Henkle: henkle@pobox.com
P.O. Box 1447, Oshkosh, WI 54903-1447