GODDAMIT, why do people say "The Empire STATE building?"

[karlrschneider]

The thing is named for New York, the "Empire State"...so the emphasis should be on EMPIRE, not STATE. ARRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[tuvor]

1. The cadence works better that way.

Has this been bothering you for the past 75 years?

[karlrschneider]

4. No, only for the last 50 years.

:D

[skygazer]

2. For the same reason they say bal-SAM-ic vinegar

When you say balsam, the emphasis is on the first syllable - BALsam. But everyone (except me) calls it balSAMic vinegar.

[karlrschneider]

5. Well, that's not quite the same thing. Often when a noun is converted

to an adjective, the emphasis is shifted to preserve a more comfortable scansion, but I don't think that applies in the case I'm bitching about.
But it probably isn't that important so I'll drop my complaint and just sit here and stew in my own juices. ;-)

[skygazer]

9. Oh, sure, so you're right and I'm wrong

I saw this as a blatant attempt to start a flame-war when I clicked into it but thought I'd give it the benefit of the doubt. Bitter pill to be right once again. Et tu, Brute!

(Do I really have to include this? :sarcasm: )

[deadparrot]

3. I've always wondered that, too.

I always grew up using the emphasis on "state," though when I thought about it, it really is wrong. :shrug:

[karlrschneider]

7. I will sleep well tonight knowing I'm not totally nuts. Thank you.

:D
:D

[Dukkha]

6. how was it pronounced in King Kong?

1933 version that is. It may have started there.

[SeattleGirl]

8. Um, because no one has ever told me different???

And because I've never been to New York.

But look at it this way -- even if the emphasis is on the wrong word, we call it by it's name. Wonder what Bush calls it???

[Sequoia]

10. My nephew called it The ENTIRE State Building.

[SeattleGirl]

11. LOL!

Cute!

[0007]

12. I lived next door to the Empire State building for two years

at the McAlpin House, and that is what the New Yorkers called it. Chill out its just a name.