Herb:
I can tell you that without a single exception I have never heard anyone from the greater Denver area ever pronounce Rio Grande any other way than "Reeo Grand". This includes RR employees, managers, fans, and the general populace.
In Southern Colorado, especially in rural ares, the pronunciations Earl provided are accurate.
This is exactly how the "manglesh" phenomenon which plauged this board for the longest time got started.
My biggest personal beef is the pronunciation of Cum-bres, pronounced "Coom-bres" by tourists and enlightened purists. This is just something I usually endure quietly, although I recall writing a scorching letter on this subject to Greg Scholls several years ago.
Anglo Western Americans have taken a certain measure of pride in mangeling and distorting Spanish words since there have been Anglo Western Americans. It don't mean nuthin, we just iggernat, thass all. But we are particular how we say stuff.
It's Reeo Grand. Don't never make the mistake of saying "Grandee" to no native Colaradan, you'll be marked as a greenhorn tourist for shore. Cause yew are one.
Ryo's kinda like Pee-eb-low, and La-hair-a, an Floreeda. It's there, but rural, very common in Narra Gage country. But not never "Grandee". Ain't no way. That's fer tourists. Like Sour Cream.
^^ak thu Waldcayut