[Savage Beast]

Pronouncing a final i like a as in sofa is something I've heard lots of old timers do: Miama, Hawaya, Missoura. I've wondered if it could be related to the old English tendency, still heard sometimes in Appalachia, to pronounce a final a like a y, e.g. Loretty for Loretta.

[huldah1776]

“Pronouncing a final i like a as in sofa is something I’ve heard lots of old timers do: Miama, Hawaya, Missoura”

A family link between Appalachia and the Ozarks?