Arkansasyers and Those from Off-Properly Pronouncing Arkansas is Not Only The Right Thing to Do. It's the Law.

Arkansas Code 1-4-105. Pronunciation of state name. Whereas, confusion of practice has arisen in the pronunciation of the name of our state and it is deemed important that the true pronunciation should be determined for use in oral official proceedings. And, whereas, the matter has been thoroughly investigated by the State Historical Society and the Eclectic Society of Little Rock, which have agreed upon the correct pronunciation as derived from history and the early usage of the American immigrants. Be it therefore resolved by both houses of the General Assembly, that the only true pronunciation of the name of the state, in the opinion of this body, is that received by the French from the native Indians and committed to writing in the French word representing the sound. It should be pronounced in three (3) syllables, with the final "s" silent, the "a" in each syllable with the Italian sound, and the accent on the first and last syllables. The pronunciation with the accent on the second syllable with the sound of "a" in "man" and the sounding of the terminal "s" is an innovation to be discouraged. Concurrent Resolution No. 4, Acts 1881, p. 216 "

Thanks to Dr. Stephen Smith for his "Smith's Alternative Arkansas History" including the post for December 21st which included inter alia: 

21-Dec 1940 William Roberts and Bill Griffith arrested for distributing religious magazines Watchtower and Consolation without a city license or occupational tax under Hot Springs Ordinance 559. 

21-Dec 1944 Little Rock City Council demands to know why an indecent "hootchy-kootchy" show was allowed to operate at 114 W. Markham St. for several months before finally was closed by police.  

21-Dec 1984 Arkansas Supreme Court affirms jury award of $20,850 against Wal-Mart for false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and intentional infliction of emotional distress of Katherine Yarbrough. 

21-Dec 1998 Arkansas Supreme Court rules that Attorney General Winston Bryant has standing under the Freedom of Information Act to request withheld records of Governor Mike Huckabee's hokey complaint hotline." Thanks also to Gale Wingate who asked Dr. Steve if there was “a law about pronouncing Arkansas as anything other than Arkansaw not Arkanasan" and again to the good doctor for providing the answer.