#80483
09/16/2002 1:55 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
An interesting point, Faldage, that I've not heard before. I wish I could be sure
that the people who use the term for total distruction were thinking of that.
Too bad the Romans didn't call it "delendation".
|
|
|
#80484
09/16/2002 2:02 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
People who use the term decimate in its modern sense of large-scale destruction are using it the way they have heard others use it and in a way that they expect people to understand based on the fact that that is the way others use it. If meaning did not shift then silly would be a compliment and nice an insult.
|
|
|
#80485
09/16/2002 2:30 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320
enthusiast
|
|
enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 320 |
I regret using slippery slope. It's one of those trendy phrases I generally try to avoid. Just slipped out.
|
|
|
#80486
09/16/2002 3:44 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
I know a couple of people who consistently say “brought” when they mean bought. This despite a lifetime of having heard the correct word used. This mistake, although not common, is sometimes heard around the London area – I haven’t heard it anywhere else. This causes me to stumble mentally every time I hear it as does the word nuclear pronounced as nucular. What happens is that for a time I am distracted from the message by the pronunciation. Others here obviously also find that to be the case.
So what we have is the most powerful man in the world's most powerful country trying to give us what he sees as a powerful message, but a good many of his listeners are being distracted from the message by his speech mannerisms! That has to be undesirable. Those of his listeners who themselves say "nucular" would not be upset or think any the less of him were he to pronounce the word properly, so the effect is all negative for him.
Certainly language is all about communication and it changes and develops with common usage, but that can only be through a popular trend (carefully avoids using "slippery slope"!). Whether a pronunciation or usage has become “accepted” can only be assessed by a body that is generally recognised as suitably qualified, and to see what is accepted right now one would, at least I would, refer to a number of well-known dictionaries. They will not suggest the use of brought for bought or nucular as a way to pronounce nuclear because right now those are not accepted.
So lets resist the trends that we find unpalatable or ugly to try to prevent them from becoming accepted!
dxb.
|
|
|
#80487
09/16/2002 4:08 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
They will not suggest the use of brought for bought or nucular as a way to pronounce nuclear because right now those are not accepted.
Suggesting one use a pronunciation and dismissing someone for using that pronunciation are two entirely different things.
|
|
|
#80488
09/16/2002 4:17 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
I like the point, however, about incorrect pronunciation causing a distraction.
It's difficult enough to follow the path some speeches take without throwing obstacles in the way, such as mispronunciations.
If the mispronunciations go with the flow of, say, an obviously humorous part of the speech, well, great. We're in that groove with the speaker.
But if the mispronunciations are part of a serious speech we're trying to take seriously, the speech finally isn't as effective.
What is the good of cluttering up a serious speech with mispronunciations, Faldage? Really. What good comes of mispronounced words?
|
|
|
#80489
09/16/2002 4:21 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
Faldage, I was not suggesting that anyone should be dismissed.
dxb
|
|
|
#80490
09/16/2002 4:22 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
not suggesting that anyone should be dismissed
You weren't but.
|
|
|
#80491
09/16/2002 4:24 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
|
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
But what? But me no buts - be specific, not coy.
dxb
|
|
|
#80492
09/16/2002 4:39 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
What good comes of mispronounced words?
I hear people pronouncing either as "eye-ther" and it takes some effort for me not to assume they are putting on airs. People who don't think of "nucular" as being anything but the standard way of pronouncing the word probably don't spend a lot of time on the web nattering on about it* but they may well feel that those who do pronounce it correctly are a little bit stuffy.
*What does this say about the relative levels of intelligence?
|
|
|
#80493
09/16/2002 4:41 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
be specific, not coy.
...but TEd did.
|
|
|
#80494
09/16/2002 6:47 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661 |
... a body that is generally recognised as suitably qualified...
... So lets resist the trends that we find unpalatable or ugly to try to prevent them from becoming accepted!Your choice of what is unpalatable or ugly seems to be aligned with your definition of a "suitably qualified" body... but personally *we find language an art form and its virtue is in the ears of the beholder. I know what is meant when I hear 'noo-cue-lar' (I can't even say it myself) and I use 'eye-ther' quite 'off-ten' but I ain't tryin' to impress nobody by doin' so, yet the little journey of juxtaposition and misuse of "acceptable form"(blech) I take myself and the listener on in this sentence is intentional. Speaking of... If the mispronouncer doesn't "know better" how long does it take 'til it no longer qualifies as a mispronouciation? 
|
|
|
#80495
09/16/2002 10:24 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
veteran
|
|
veteran
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346 |
it takes some effort for me not to assume they are putting on airs...they may well feel that those who do pronounce it correctly are a little bit stuffyWell, that's just inverse snobbery really, isn't it? Point taken, though, nunclage - you shouldn't really judge people by what you consider mispronunciations, any more than you should judge them by accent, spelling, handwriting, dress, hairstyle, blah blah. But the fact is, we do. This can mislead us in ways that may suit a politician down to the ground, but those misconceptions could equally well destroy the politician's career. It's part of the job to be able to tell the difference. 
|
|
|
#80496
09/17/2002 9:37 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 872
old hand
|
|
old hand
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 872 |
The poll results are in!
Is participatory democracy the cat's pajamas or what?  (No offense intended to those of you who still have Kings and Queens and outdoor plumbing)The SurveyShould President Bush bomb Saddam Hussein out of the Old Stone Age and into the New Stone Age? ________________________________________YES [ ] NO [ ] Does President Bush care if dippy, henny-penny, tree hugging, commies-with-out-a-country, liberals call him "Duhba" behind his back? _________________________________________YES [ ] NO [ ] Does "nuclear" rhyme with "knuckle-ear"? _________________________________________YES [ ] NO [ ] Does "nuclear" rhyme with "molecular"? _________________________________________YES [ ] NO [ ] Is anyone here driving a red ford station wagon parked out front in the loading zone with the lights on? ______________________________ YES [ ] NO [ ] DON'T KNOW [ ] THE SURVEY SAID...* 100% of my grandchildren agreed that we should stand firm against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by Saddam Hussein. * 80% said that they thought that President Bush didn't care what you people called him (as long as it wasn't late to lunch. 20%) * 0% thought that "nuclear" rhymed with yucky "knuckle-ear" * 100% thought that "nuclear rhymed with "molecular". * 80% answered that they owned the red station wagon, 20% (Olivia, who is only three and hasn't yet learned to lie) answered "I don't know. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
|
|
#80497
09/17/2002 10:33 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
Anyun thanks a three yer ole cain't lie 'sgot his hed stuck so far up his butt he's lookin out thru his ahbawls.
She jes gone lie about somthin worth liein about.
|
|
|
#80498
09/17/2002 11:07 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
Speaking of decimate, it happens to be today's Word. Y'all suppose Anu reads this thang sometimes?
|
|
|
#80499
09/17/2002 11:27 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
I like knuckle-ear.
Knuckle-ear reactors
Knuckle-ear bombs
Knuckle-ear physicist
Knuckle-ear power
I'm gonna write President Bush a letter and request that he start using "knuckle-ear" ASAP. I think it'll catch on. Thanks, milum, for coining a great word that gets at the both the drift of this thread and the drift of this thread.
|
|
|
#80500
09/17/2002 11:35 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
a great word that gets at the both the drift of this thread and the drift of this thread.
That's very profound.
Or either that or a really dumb, unproofread mistake, one, or neither, none, or either that or both, both.
|
|
|
#80501
09/17/2002 12:28 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
a great word that gets at the both the drift of this thread and the drift of this thread.
...'twere intentional, Fald. Take it as you will.
WW
|
|
|
#80502
09/17/2002 12:39 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
'twere intentional
Well, OK. I guess my onliest question now is whut's 'at firstest the doon in ther?
|
|
|
#80503
09/17/2002 1:05 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
Tha first the shou'na be there. I di'na read meseff well. 'Twas me knuckle-eye wot got in tha way.
|
|
|
#80504
09/17/2002 1:12 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
me knuckle-eye wot got in tha way
Which just goes to prove the old saying: Never stick nothin bigger'n yer knuckle-elbow in yer knuckle-ear.
|
|
|
#80505
09/17/2002 4:18 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4
stranger
|
|
stranger
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4 |
I see this issue as one of understanding what one (in this case the prez) is saying, by understanding where the word comes from. In the case of nuclear, it means relating to the nucleus or nuclei. (not molecules) Obviously this is rather key to the whole concept of nuclear weapons, arsenal, etc.. As I have never heard these other words pronounced as nu-que-lus or nu-que-li, I tend to view the use of nu-que-lar as an indication of ignorance.
Now, you may just look at it as a cute little verbal quirk of Dubya's, but I wouldn't want my children to imitate it.
Hello to all!
|
|
|
#80506
09/17/2002 5:09 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
understanding where the word comes from. In the case of nuclear, it means relating to the nucleus or nuclei. (not molecules)And there's no bells in the origin of belfry. http://www.bartleby.com/61/88/B0168800.html
|
|
|
#80507
09/17/2002 5:46 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4
stranger
|
|
stranger
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 4 |
batty I may be, but then when should the origin of the word have a bearing on the pronunciation? (I am aware that there are proper exceptions to this "rule").
|
|
|
#80508
09/17/2002 5:53 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
when should the origin of the word have a bearing on the pronunciation?
So it's OK to pronounce it "nucular"?
|
|
|
#80509
09/17/2002 6:07 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661 |
And I repeat... If the mispronouncer doesn't "know better" how long does it take 'til it no longer qualifies as a mispronouciation? [blank stare]
|
|
|
#80510
09/17/2002 6:13 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
NO, Faldage. It is NOT ok to pronounce it nucular. No way. Period. Not if you're the President of the US.
Dubya is screwing up. He's educated. He's the president. He should know better. And, if he doesn't, he has lots of advisors who should know better.
He is certainly intelligent enough to change his pronunciation from nucular to nuclear. (I hope he is, that is.) He can do this. Really. In the wink of an eye. It ain't hard. It's easy.
Now other people who do not have the resources close at hand that Dubya does--other people who don't even know they're mispronouncing nuclear--other people who really don't care about how they pronounce anything--well, that's different. I'll bet even you, Faldage, mispronounce a word every now and then--rarely, but mebbe once in a blue moon. I'll bet every single one of us on this board has screwed up some pronunciation out of the Great Dictionary in the Sky at some time. And I ain't criticizing that at all. You live and learn and all that jazz. But you do learn, you know?
But when it comes to the dadburn President of the United States holding onto a pronunciation just because he's too lazy or superior to want to set a good example, well, then I have to wonder about how lazy he is in other matters, too.
So, Faldage: It is NOT ok to pronounce nuclear : nucular if you're the President of the US.
And it is OK to pronounce nuclear "nucular" if you just don't know better and haven't realized you're pronouncing it incorrectly.
And if you know you should pronounce it "nuclear," but are pronouncing it "nucular" just because you enjoy making mincemeat of the language, then fine. That's just your eccentric bag.
Welcome, Madam Curie. Faldage is being a slippery snake today.
|
|
|
#80511
09/17/2002 6:22 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
It ain't hard. It's easy.
Depends. For some people, yes. For others, no. And it's got nothing to do with intelligence.
Which thumb do you use to hit the space bar? Can you change? Easily?
And how many votes do you think Dubya's gonna lose because he can't pronounce nuclear right?
|
|
|
#80512
09/17/2002 7:45 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
It ain't hard. It's easy. WW
Depends. For some people, yes. For others, no. Slippery Snake Faldage
I ain't talkin' some people. I'm talkin' George W. Bush. See thread starter. WW
And it's got nothing to do with intelligence. SSF
Yes, it does has somethin' to do with intelligence. Cats can't say 'nuclear' and slugs can't either. Mebbe parrots can. Depends upon who's teachin' 'em. But this is George W. Bush's intelligence in question, and I think he has enough intelligence to make the switch easily. Give me five minutes with him. WW
Which thumb do you use to hit the space bar? Can you change? Easily? SSF
The above statement is a non sequitur. WW
And how many votes do you think Dubya's gonna lose because he can't pronounce nuclear right? SSF
Another non sequitur. We're not talkin' votes; we're talkin' givin' a speech in which the audience is sittin' there countin' on their fingers and thumbs--even the thumbs they don't use to press the space bar--how many times they've heard 'nucular' for 'nuclear.' WW
Five minutes. That's all I'm askin'. Five minutes.
|
|
|
#80513
09/17/2002 8:00 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,467 |
This reminds me of an anecdote from the Carter Administration. Jimmy had just gotten back from a European grip and grin when he made an offhand reference to the GNC while talking to reporters.
They searched and they searched and could not find what GNC was an abbreviation for, so they asked his press secretary, who laughed heartily and said that Carter had been talking about a security problem involving the Aegean Sea.
Seriously, Faldage, a president who mispronounces a word as important as nuclear needs to be corrected. Those who hear it and abhor the mispronunciation tend to discount the other words in his message (if they even hear them at all.)
It's a disservice to the US of A and to the Presidency itself for his aides not to jump all over his skinny little butt to get him to say the word properly. I think they are allowing him to do it because they think it plays well with the good ol' boy image he stgrives so hard to maintain. Wither that or they are all pronouncing it nucular because the boss does. Which would mean Bill's right about not correcting the King.
And I don't think that happens. I just got finished reading Shadow, by Bob Woodward, and he reports dozens of instances where Presidents' aides take off the gloves and whale the hell out of each other (and the boss) but only in private. Now it may be that the climate of the current White House doesn't support that. After all, this is the first time in history where we've had an attorney general who wants to be referred to by the title "general".
TEd
|
|
|
#80514
09/17/2002 8:05 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 6,511 |
In the interest of fairness and complete disclosure, I gotta stay out of this, being Faldage's better half. I can't help but hope, though, that y'all don't start calling him an ASp. Think of what that would do to my rep!
|
|
|
#80515
09/17/2002 8:18 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
ASp and SlipperyAsp [SAsp]...sounds like a perfect match!
ASp and SAsp...Forever!
|
|
|
#80516
09/17/2002 8:51 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189 |
From henceforth, I declare, that anyone guilty of misclear unpronunciation will be the recipient of a knuckle-ear sandwich right quick!
|
|
|
#80517
09/17/2002 9:04 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346
veteran
|
|
veteran
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,346 |
Five minutes. That's all I'm askin'. Five minutes.Use the chair! P.S. "Slippery Snake Faldage" 
|
|
|
#80518
09/17/2002 9:08 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189 |
One can be a descriptivist without defending or condoning sloppy usage, as one can be a prescriptivist and practice sloppy usage. Pronunciation shift is a part of language; discounting the contributions of someone whose usages do not match one's own only limits the holder of these prejudices."I seen the enemy, and they is us." And, yet, if we continiue to use the "Dubya" for "double-you", we're all descrptivists, changing the language to suit the need and facilitating a permanency of that change through repetition, aren't we? What about LBJ's..."Mah fellah Americans"? I know that's is just a matter of accent, but did it render him less intelligent in my eyes...no. Or the Kennedys' thick Boston accent? But I think you also have to know, and in a postition of influence, demonstrate that you know the rules before you break them, linguistically speaking (Creative Writing 101). If you want to write experimental poetry, fine. But, first, you should know and be able to work in the sonnet form before you abandon it. I do think that many politicians streamline their verbalization to reach their greatest perceived number of constituents. And all, of course, are given to the colloquialisms of everyday speech like the rest of us. Witness Dale Bumpers eloquent Daniel Webster-like oration to the Senate during the Clinton impeachment proceedings. If he spoke that way everyday in local Arkansas TV interviews he'd probably never get re-elected. However, I have always reacted to nucular as a mispronunciation...there's nothing there that merits change except for a lack of intellectual guidance, at the least. Not good form for presidents or kings or college professors, etc. Welcome, Madame Curie...and thanks for discovering radium!
|
|
|
#80519
09/17/2002 9:15 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,189 |
Loo-uh-vulThanks, FF! All this time I've been trying to pronounce it right for Jackie and could only manage Lureville! Hey, Jackie!!! I'm hiring Fallible as my Loo-uh-vul dialect tutor!
|
|
|
#80520
09/17/2002 9:25 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,661 |
Which thumb do you use to hit the space bar? Can you change? Easily? SSF
The above statement is a non sequitur. WW
I know a non sequitur when I see one, and that ain't one... neither (pronounced ny-ther) was the next one...
|
|
|
#80521
09/18/2002 10:17 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
First I apologize to Mme. Curie for missing her point about nuclear and nucleus. In my mad dash to jump on my horse and ride off in all directions I didn't notice that she was pointing out that you don't hear people saying nuculus for nucleus. There are at least two reasons for this. One of the reasons for the pronunciation nucular is that there is an extensive support system of other words ending in -cular, approximately four times as many as words ending in -culus given the relative numbers m-w.com gives when fed "*cular" versus "*culus". The other reason is that nuclear is considerably more common than nucleus with 7,410,000 google hits for nuclear versus 967,000 for nucleus. I suspect that if you listen you will hear nuculus, just not nearly as often as nucular.
The point of the thumb thing was that it is a set pattern in your muscles as is pronunciation.
As for intelligence having an effect on our ability to alter speech patterns learned early in life I have merely to point out that many otherwise intelligent people have great difficulty learning new languages after childhood and often those that do never speak it with a good accent. On the other hand, many people of average intelligence or below learn to speak foreign languages late in life and can speak like a native.
As for learning new pronunciations, the President of the United States has plenty more important things to worry about than how to pronounce nuclear. He could be coached for hours and practice saying "NOO-CLEE-ER" for hours and then have it all dissipate when he's up at the speaker's platform, as anyone who has experienced public speaking knows well.
|
|
|
#80522
09/18/2002 11:55 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
Five minutes, Faldage. That's all I want. While he's brushing his teeth, for instance. He won't have to practice long. Honestly. After he spits out his toothpaste.
The thumb on space bar is muscular, true, as is speech. However, when we speak, we are actively engaging our minds. When we hit the space bar, we are using an automated response. I don't have to think "hit space bar" when I'm typing. I think of the words, type them out quickly, listen inwardly to the sound of the sentence I type, but I don't think "space" in between the words as I read over them. When I speak, however, I do think more consciously than when I hit the space bar. Carbohydrate, for instance. I used to pronounce it "carbohydrit" instead of "carbohy-drate". Somebody corrected me. So now when I speak the word carbohydrate, the little speech coach in my brain reminds me to employ the ATE sound instead of the IT one. (Who knows--carbohy'drit' may be an acceptable pronunciation by now. Thus progresses the language in its many-garbed parade of possible sounds.)
I still believe:
1. President Bush could quickly modify his pronunciation of 'nuclear'; if he cannot with a modicum of effort, well, at least he gave it a good shot (five minutes--honestly--while he's walking downstairs, for instance); learning to pronounce "nuclear" for President Bush would not be as hard or time-consuming as Faldage would have us believe;
2. Nuclear is an important word with important ramifications; it should be pronounced correctly;
3. Public speaking on a national level requires some discipline from its speakers, and they should attempt to use standard pronunciations when speaking on topics of importance;
4. Mispronunciations are somewhat different from allowances made for accent;
5. The mind is more consciously engaged when speaking to an audience than it is when hitting the space bar.
6. Yes, Faldage, President Bush is engaged in "more important" things than learning to tweak a pronunciation of a word. But he's not engaged in those more important things all of the time. He relaxes. He satisfies his curiosity. He reads. He yawns. He rides a horse or two. During those more relaxed times when he is exercising his curiosity about the language, he might think to tweak his pronunication of nuclear. I would never suggest that he so tweak when he's actively engaged in a crisis, just as I wouldn't try to tweak a pronunication problem of my own when I'm teaching.
Best regards,
WW
|
|
|
|
|
