Tomatoes in your sub ma'am?

I've read two hilarious posts recently about US/UK pronounciation. Mike over at Postcards from Across the Pond wrote a hilarious piece about trying to communicate with a taxi driver inEngland, and Brit Out of Water was shocked to find himself saying Home Depot the way Americans do - Deepo, as opposed to Deppo. I admit that I too say Deepo, mainly because I've only ever heard the whole phrase in the States. Home Deppo would sound strange.

I caused great hilarity in England a year or two ago, when I mentioned the Toyota Celica car, and pronounced it Sellika as they do here. My family insisted it was Saleeka, and cut me no slack because I'd only ever heard one pronounciation of it. My American sons find it equally amusing, on watching Top Gear, that Brits pronounce the Hyundai High un Die. Here in the States, it's pronounced Hunday. I have to say the Brit pronounciation sounds more Japanese to my untrained ear, but I choose my battles with my kids, and arguing about the right way to pronounce a stupid car name doesn't even make the list.

I can say Bayzil (for Basil) without too much pain, and oREGano rolls off the tongue too, but the American word I swear I will never embrace is tomaydo. Despite being teased, imitated and misunderstood in sandwich shops, I just can't do it. You see, it not only requires a change in the pronounciation of the "a", it also demands that the "t" be replaced by a "d". Too many accommodations in one word for me. Besides, I always think Brits who fall victim to the "d" sound a bit weird. Not being judgmental or anything, I just don't understand how you can grow to be an adult speaking one way, then adopt something fairly different within a year, or even a decade.

This stubborness on my part makes for some interesting challenges while in those deli sandwich shops. I quite like tomatoes, and am not averse to having them in those big sub sandwiches, but only if I don't have to ask for them. Sometimes I get lucky and the server points to things which I then only need to say yes or no to. However, if they say "What else would you like in your sandwich?" I usually stick with lettuce, cheese and onion.