, , , ,  How do you pronounce Appalachia? Do you say Appa-LAY-
shuh or do you say Appa-LATCH-uh?  Tomato, tomAHto, let’s call
the whole thing off. Or not.  If you are from Appalachia then
you, without a doubt, say Appa-LATCH-uh. If you say Appa-LAY-
shuh you are not only identifying the mountain range but you are
also announcing to all that you are not from there. You can say
a lot in just one word. In my 35 years, I have not met one
person from my precious Appalachian Mountains that says that
they are from Appa-LAY-shuh. There is a right way.  However,
when I travel I run in to folks who argue with me about the
pronunciation. Usually the debate ends with, well, “this is the
way we say it here.” Does it matter how people say it elsewhere?
I feel that the pronunciation of the locals is pretty persuasive
in establishing the right way. Yet, many folks (probably those
holding on to the nonsense stereotypes that all of us are
shoeless, toothless, and uneducated) think that they know best;
but they are wrong.  This m