Thursday, July 3, 2008

Words I'm Looking Up -- One in an occasional, cleverly named series on words I'm looking up



nuclear

pronunciation: noo-kle er, nyoo
-- Webster's New World College Dictionary

I was curious to see whether the dictionary sanctioned the pronunciation "nu-CU-lar." It does not. Though I have read some interesting explanations as to why the president and others pronounce it that way, including this 2002 article in Slate.

Understandable, perhaps. But at least Webster's still supports my skin's decision to crawl every time I hear this.



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2 comments:

Joel said...

"Misunderestimate" and "strategerize" are two Geo-logisms that I find borderline brilliant. The un-self-conscious persistence of "nu-CU-lar" is the turd in the punchbowl confirming that those others are accidents of intellectual laziness and ignorance and not the witty, satirical playfulness I secretly hoped they might be.

June Casagrande said...

Too funny! Certainly eliminates the danger I'll be dipping into any punchbowls anytime soon!

: )

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