Isle Royale Forums

I can't decide if the emphasis is on the first syllable or second. And does the "s" make an "s" sound or a "z" sound? Thanks for any assistance!

I've almost always heard it with emphasis on the first syllable, and most frequently as "Deh'-sore" but occasionally "Day'-sore."

According to The Place Names of Isle Royale - Edward Desor was an assistant geologist with the Jackson Survey of 1847. He was the first to describe the glacial features on Isle Royale.

Frankly, it's perhaps a bit pedandic and I think people will understand and forgive no matter what way you pronounce it. Just don't say "Aisle Roy ale" and you won't rankle the feathers of the regulars. It's Royal.

I didn't know it was named after a person. It turns out the pronunciation suffers from the same issue as Isle Royale. His full name was Pierre Jean Édouard Desor. While he was apparently German Swiss, that is a very French name! He probably called it Eel Roy-ale, ha ha. Thanks for the help!

I have always heard it, and said it, with the emphasis on the second syllable. As in, d’SOAR. The d is very light. Dunno if this is true to the word origin, though.

Tom wrote: Fri May 29, 2020 5:58 pm......Just don't say "Aisle Roy ale" and you won't rankle the feathers of the regulars. It's Royal.

Year's back, we met several Europeans at Malone Bay. Most were Austrians, but one gal (who may have been French) pronounced it "Eel-Roy-AL."

Deh - soar for me ... not sure if right or wrong but that’s how I’ve said it

So what I'm hearing is there's no real consensus so no one will harass me too badly for mispronouncing it! Which is cool, I'll just act like however I want to say it is the correct way:)

...As I think back, maybe I DO put the emphasis on the last syllable. It's so difficult to sound out by yourself and I've been told I already talk too much to myself.
Since it's such a short word, and just two syllables, I say pick a version and say it with conviction, and who is to question you? (Unless, perhaps, you're in camp with an ancestor of Mr Desor)
I suppose if you're nervous you can always do that thing where you muffle your mouth as you say it as if you're wiping your lips with the back of your hand and mumble the name. It's not uncommon technique in these northern states where many of our landmarks come from Native American words. That's what I do when driving around northern Wisconsin in the Chequamegon forest..