Help me Solve a Heated Debate in the Name of Proper Grammar

Alternately titled: The Great Creek Debate 2010

It's 3:43a.m.

I have been awakened with heartburn and kept awake with thoughts I'd rather not think. Sadly, I'm a "once I'm up, I'm up" kind-of girl. I could pour out my deep thoughts here, but instead I thought maybe you would like to help me solve a heated debate that recently took place around the campfire at the Mohican on our mini-family vacation. In fact, I'm quite confident that many of you out there in blogland are also lovers of words and proper grammar, and will be delighted to enter your two cents into this debate. We can call it research.

The argument before us is the correct pronunciation of the word creek. There were five of us, and I was the only one who insisted that the word is pronounced as it is written, with the long "e" sound. Creek. The other four individuals insisted that they had only heard it pronounced crick. I said that a "crick" is something you get in your neck. You go fishing in a creek.(By the way, Ned, this is for you: crick - Pronunciation: \ˈkrik\, Function: noun, Etymology: Middle English cryk, definition: a painful spasmodic condition of muscles (as of the neck or back).)

Their strongest argument was regarding regional dialect. I must say that I do not agree that it is even the dialect in Northwestern Ohio to pronounce creek that other way. But, I have no evidence to back up that theory at this time. My evidence sited at the campfire was every teacher I've ever heard read Little House on The Prairie (which leaves plenty of opportunity for pronouncing the word, creek), everyone I've ever heard refer to Cripple Creek in Napoleon, Ohio, and every member of my family growing up. There must have been others influencing my strong conviction on the pronunciation of this word, as well. For, I wholeheartedly believe that I am correct.

I will concede that there are words in the English language spoken differently due to dialect. I am even guilty in my middle-aged laziness of slipping on my grammar from time to time. Although, I used to pride myself at one point in my life on my impeccable grammar. However, my argument remains that just because the majority of people in a given area pronounce something a certain way does not make it proper grammar.

Also, in true Christian love, I will give other reasons that chip away at the credibility of my campfire friends. Reasons that somehow are coming much more freely to my mind in the wee hours of this morning than they were Saturday night.

Fact: My husband's family background is quite "country". While there is nothing wrong with that at all, I am guessing that my husband spent more time hanging out with his dad in the barn talking about fishing in the "crick" than reading books and listening to his English teachers. I love you, honey...and your sweet family. But, I do not believe you are pronouncing creek, correctly. =)

Fact: My teenage son's arguments that evening were irrelevant because that child would argue with me if I said the sky was blue. That negates anything he said in the discussion. And, for the record, he did not get his pronunciation of the word creek from me. Such rebellion in the hearts of these young folks. =)

Fact: I have known my friend Tracy for years, and I think she and I will agree that her mispronunciation and misuse of words in the English language is one of her most endearing qualities. However, it does not make her an authority on the correct pronunciation of the word, creek. Again, I am calling my friends and family out publicly with the utmost Christian love.

Fact: I have less evidence to refute Tracy's husband's arguments. But, I will say this: Ned loves a good argument more than anyone I know. He has tried for years to drag me into a heated debate about a variety of subjects, and I have resisted for years. Apparently, he had not yet found a subject I felt passionately enough about, until now. Proper grammar may just be my Achilles Heel.

I consulted Merriam-Webster, and the results were inconclusive. Sadly, I think that proper grammar is in danger of becoming extinct because someone has deemed it acceptable to allow dialect to determine how words are pronounced, rather than holding fast to what is deemed "correct". As Tracy pointed out, they will change and add to definitions and pronunciations of words as culture changes and the majority of people influence the way words are expressed. This is disheartening for someone who has enjoyed an abiding love affair with proper grammar.

Webster's results:
Main Entry: creek
Pronunciation: \ˈkrēk, ˈkrik\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English crike, creke, from Old Norse -kriki bend
Date: 13th century
1 chiefly British : a small inlet or bay narrower and extending farther inland than a cove
2 : a natural stream of water normally smaller than and often tributary to a river
3 archaic : a narrow or winding passage

— up the creek : in a difficult or perplexing situation

Webster, I cannot believe you have let me down by including that dialect-influenced pronunciation as even an option! This has forever changed our relationship. It is a sad, sad day when one cannot count on Webster as an authority on the English language. A sad, sad day.

I did, however, find an online site that gives the correct pronunciation of words audibly. You can hear the truth for yourself on this site: www.howjsay.com. Apparently somewhere in the world someone still values proper grammar.

It is with great pleasure that I reveal yet further evidence to my claim from www.fanetik.org. In a chart displaying the correct pronunciation in one column and the incorrect pronunciation in the "but not" column, the answer is clear and irrefutable. Creek, pronounced kreek BUT NOT krik. All is right with the world, no thanks to Webster....I might add.

From this site about the American Standard pronunciation of the word, creek, this statement referred to the Pennsylvania Dutch pronunciation: The German dialect spoken by the so-called Pennsylvania Dutch of lower Pennsylvania is the oldest immigrant language to remain in daily use in the United States, and so it shows very extensive English influences. The fact that it survives at all is due to the extreme clannishness of the people using it... The vulgar American pronunciation often shows itself, as in heist for hoist and krick for creek. I'll concede that vulgar may be a little strong, and I would have worded this with more grace. Perhaps there are others who feel stronger convictions on the subject than I! I will also admit that my own Irish/German heritage has influenced my speech. It makes sense that those gathered around the campfire also boast strong German heritage. (By the way, can I just say that I thoroughly enjoyed the use of the word, clanniness in the statement above?) Still there is an issue of what is correct and proper.

Fact:
The long e-sound in creek is maintained in standard American, but changed to the short i-sound of sit in the vulgate (n. 1.The common speech of a people; the vernacular.2.A widely accepted text or version of a work.).
—Chapter 7. The Standard American Pronunciation. 2. The Vowels

Fact: For Tracy - What did I find on a list of extensive homophones on www.enchantedlearning.com? Oh, just this: creak/creek.

I have not yet found conclusive results on the regional dialect debate, so I thought maybe some of my dear word-loving blogger friends may be able to help me with this one. Plus, I'm getting a little sleepy. It may be true that many of you pronounce creek differently than yours truly. If so, I still love you...(even though I believe I've given a strong case of the correct pronunciation). =) I would love to know how many of you pronounce creek...and I know that you can speak for various parts of the country, which I think will make it more interesting.

So, in the comments of this post, for the sake of research...please state whether you pronounce the word creek as /kreek/ or /krik/. I'd love to hear how you actually pronounce the word and your opinion of the correct pronunciation.

And...as a disclaimer, I hope you know this post is all in fun and much of what I said is meant to be "tongue in cheek". Please do not take offense to my strong grammatical opinions. Creek or crick, I love you just the same! =)

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