Pronunciation of Argyll

[David Thorpe]

Not pronounced MAY-suh, like in Arizona, but MEE-suh...

So, more like Jarjar Banks, then.

I find the differences in pronunciation between the UK and the US (and Canada) in general fascinating. Dictional differences are easily attributed to localities with their individual traditions, but syllabular emphasis?
With virtually any multi-syllable word, if one accents a particular syllable, the other will accent a different one. Are the media responsible for this? Is there a government conspiracy involved? Perhaps some clandestine group in one or both countries bound and determined to maintain a separate national identity by perpetuating the division of a supposedly single language?

BTW, I lived for two years near "HOK-yum" (Hoquiam).