why is arkansas pronounced the way it is

The pronunciation of Arkansas as "AR-kin-saw" comes from its French origin and the influence of French explorers in the 17th century. The name "Arkansas" is derived from the French plural form of a Native American tribal name, specifically that of the Quapaw people, and follows French pronunciation rules where the final "s" is silent. In contrast, Kansas, named after the Kansa tribe, uses an English pronunciation where the final "s" is pronounced. The distinct pronunciations were officially settled in 1881 by the Arkansas state legislature, which declared the pronunciation "Arkansaw" as correct and discouraged pronouncing it like Kansas. This difference arose because both state names originate from similar Native American roots but were adapted differently by French and English speakers. Arkansas retains its French pronunciation heritage, while Kansas follows an English one.