Nuclear.

[ER]

After enduring it these past eight years and with my tolerance finally running out during tonight's debate, I just have to say it: Governor Palin, President Bush, various yes-men commentators on FOX News, Republicans far and wide, the word is "nuclear" not "nukulur."

Thank you.

[Menard]

Republicans aren't well known for their intelligence.

[ulthar]

Give Up The Bashing

[indianasmith]

Governor Palin's pronunciation went back and forth . . . half the time she pronounced it properly, the rest of the time, she did it "W" style.  I think it's a Western thing, personally, but it doesn't really bother me.  Something odd though - my wife is a music teacher and a vocal expert, but when I explained the brouhaha over Bush's pronunciation of the word and said it both ways, she was unable to distinguish the difference . . . . weird.

[Mr_Vindictive]

The only thing I find odd about how Palin talks is that she favors the right side of her mouth.  Watch her talk.  All of her words come from the right side....odd.

[Jack]

I'm a republican, do you think I'm an idiot Menard?

[ER]

Good morning, everyone! 

Couple comments---

Just to be clear, since I started the thread, I wouldn't say anyone is stupid for being a Republican.

As for "nukulur" or whatever spelling of it you go with being in the dictionary, "ain't" "end result" and "irregardless" are also in many dictionaries and aren't sanctified into propriety because of their inclusion.

While there are more important qualities in a leader than proper pronunciation, I just can't make myself think it's asking too much of a potential President or Vice President to expect they know how to say the word "nuclear."

And, yes, indy, you're right, it sounded to me, too, as if Governor Palin said it both ways. Or at least at first she seemed to be saying "nuclear" but later she said "nukulur" several cringe-inducing times in a row. Her accent's a trip!

So, just my original observation. I hope it didn't sound mean-spirited or stir anything unpleasant up.

Hope today's a wonderful day for everybody!
'

[raj]

FWIW, Jimmy Carter also pronounced it "nucular".

[Ash]

The way I see it is that it makes anyone who pronounces nuclear incorrectly look stupid.
Even though they may in fact be very smart people, when I hear someone say nukular, I make an instant snap judgement about their intelligence.  Not just their intelligence, but their ability to know and remember the "correct" pronunciation.  They know how it's supposed to be pronounced, yet they do not pronounce it correctly.
That speaks volumes to me.  At the very least, it screams "pure laziness".

As for me, I know its correct pronunciation and it would be absolutely unthinkable to me to pronounce it "nukular".  To do so would be inherently wrong and I would think of myself as stupid.

[ER]

Raj, President Carter was a nuclear engineer who graduated from Annapolis. Are you absolutely sure he didn't say "nuclear" as it's supposed to be said?

[ulthar]

Raj, President Carter was a nuclear engineer who graduated from Annapolis. Are you absolutely sure he didn't say "nuclear" as it's supposed to be said?

Yes, he pronounced it "nucular."  I actually remember his saying it that way, and his usage is very well documented.  So did Eisenhower and (gasp) Bill Clinton.

For decades, that pronunciation has been viewed as acceptable by many, many people, including scientists.  Nucular has been included in dictionaries since the 1960's for crying out loud.

This whole thing is a straw man..a non-issue.  Mispronunciations like this are actually not uncommon when new technologies come into the mainstream.  Linguistically, "nukular" is more natural, and this phenomenon HAS been studied by language experts.   Steven Pinker and Arnold Zwicky are two respected scientists that have proposed rational explanations for "nucular."

One such proposal (Zwicky's) is that it derives from the slang term "nuke" followed by the ending-word sequence "ular" such as "particular," "ocular" or "molecular."  This ending sound is more common (or simply more natural?) than the "clear" ending in words of this type.

So, it has NOTHING to do with intelligence.  There are real etymological reasons for this pronunciation...just like how just about every other word in our language is pronounced differently now than when they first came into being.  Ever heard someone speak Old-English or even Middle-English?

Many people, even those IN the nuclear industries, pronounce the word "nucular" because it "fits" better than the "proper" pronunciation.

[Menard]

I'm a republican, do you think I'm an idiot Menard?

Do you think that being a Republican makes you an idiot?


You will notice that nobody else on this board took my overly obvious bait, save for you.

Of course, that doesn't mean anything; several are probably used to it enough to not go for it that easily.

Interesting attempt, though, at putting someone on the defensive by pointedly asking a question that suggests something they did not say, but not actually saying it.

If you want to consider yourself an idiot, feel free; but don't go signing my name to it if I didn't say it.


BTW... (Cheezy loves that too )

[ER]

This discussion has gotten a little silly, so I'll close by citing from the definitive word on the English language, namely:

From the unbridged Oxford English Dictionary:

Nuclear: "nu·cle·ar"


Ignorance is one thing. Stubbornness quite another. Clearly the word is "nuclear."

[ulthar]

Yes, stubbornness can be quite frustrating.

From the Oxford English Dictionary you take as the definitive authority on the English Language,

"The colloquial pronunciation...has been criticized in usage guides since at least the mid-20th century, although it is now commonly given as a variant in modern dictionaries."

Face it.  The pronunciation "nucular" is not going away.  Like it or lump it, your choice.

[ER]

Ha, yes, ulthar, as you've ably demonstrated in at least two recent topics I can think of * mispronunciations, ignorance, stubborn ignorance, willful ignorance, militant ignorance, arrogant ignorance, and the proverbial dangers of "a little knowledge" will, along with those who love to argue, always be with us, whether I like it or lump it. 

*As I recall, after all, weren't you the person who (sorry for laughing) said the (laughing again!) IRA had never (more laughter!!!!) murdered a civilian?

Anyway, the weekend awaits!

Night, all!