Date: Mon, 30 Jun 1997 22:17:39 -0600

From: "Donald M. Lance" engdl[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]SHOWME.MISSOURI.EDU

Subject: Re: Ozark Folk, the Clean Air Act, and Pollution Credits



There are two terms: Ozarker and Ozarkian.



Old-timers use Ozarker, but some think Ozarkian is a better term.

I suspect these usages parallel Arkansawyer and Arkansan, but haven't

checked that out. That is, those who use -er on one term use it on the

other too.



Some immigrants to the region, as well as younger natives, think the

"correct" attributive form should have an -s, as in "Ozarks environment" as

opposed to "Ozark environment." The original term at the beginning of the

19th century was "the Ozark." Because people now refer to "the Ozarks,"

younger Ozarkers' Sprachgefuel calls for the "plural" form for this

genitive-like modifier. The attributive form in all official place names

is -s-less: Ozark Mountains, Ozark National Forest, etc., but times and

"the language" have changed.



Yes, apostrophes get thrown in willy-nilly on signs in the area: "Ozark's

Plumbing."