Posted by Forrest Brownell on August 11, 1997 at 16:02:17:
In Reply to: How did SAD's pronounce Rio, and which Rio Grande is it? posted by Desiree on August 11, 1997 at 14:56:51:
The irrepressible Stan Hugill opts for the Rio Grande
do Sul of Brazil as the Rio of the capstan song of the
same name. It is always 'rye-o'. The pronunciation
'ree-o' brands the speaker as a lubber or a landsman.
Ref: (1) Stan Hugill, Shanties from the Seven
Seas , 2d abridged edition (1984), pp 80-86;
(2) Frank Shay, An American Sailor's Treasury
(1991), p. 27-29.