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#80503 09/17/02 01:05 PM
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Tha first the shou'na be there. I di'na read meseff well. 'Twas me knuckle-eye wot got in tha way.


#80504 09/17/02 01:12 PM
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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 09/17/02 04:18 PM
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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 09/17/02 05:09 PM
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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 09/17/02 05:46 PM
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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 09/17/02 05:53 PM
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when should the origin of the word have a bearing on the pronunciation?

So it's OK to pronounce it "nucular"?


#80509 09/17/02 06:07 PM
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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 09/17/02 06:13 PM
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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 09/17/02 06:22 PM
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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 09/17/02 07:45 PM
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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.


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