Play a game with yourself. Next time you meet someone who you think is from Hawaii, ask them to pronounce the word “council.” If s/he says “couns-oh,” you’ve found one.
Apparently, many from the Islands have difficulty with “il” or “el” syllables. Instead of pronouncing it as “ell” (couns-el), they’ll say “oh” – couns-oh.
I never really noticed this until a particular person was elected to the Honolulu City Council. He was always referring to the governing body as the “couns-oh,” and himself as a “couns-oh-man” to the point where it began to get on my nerves. I was sorely tempted to write to him and correct him, but decided against it.
Those with this … er, affliction, will refer to a pencil as a “pens-oh,” and a stencil as a “stens-oh.” They’ll call a manual a “manu-oh,” and a rebel a “reb-oh.” There may be other examples, but I can’t think of any others right now.
So if the person you test proves this point, make sure you give him some gentle counsel. Okay?
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