Oatka: How do YOU say it?
Based on this post over at the Sander’s Fishing Guide website, I felt it necessary to comment.
I’m a native Buffalonian, but I’ve been living in Scottsville, NY for about 6 years now. One of the posters in the forum linked above made mention of the “nasaly” Rochester accent. Having lived both places, I guess I don’t find it as distinct as he does.
I have noticed though that many of the Scottsville locals do call it oh-AT-ka, as opposed to oh-OTT-ka as I’ve always called it.
And I believe that generally, oh-OTT-ka is the correct pronunciation. There was mention in the forum as well of the native Iroquois pronunciation, which stresses the first OH, and concludes OH-ott-Ka.
So the importnat takeaway is that it’s OTT, not AT, in the middle, and then the rest becomes a matter of inflection.
Either way, it’s got some nice trout in it.
