It's pronounced NOO-KLEER!!!!!!!

[beckms]

Let me preface this by saying that I don't like watching Bush give speeches. I think it's painful, he seems so uncomfortable. Let me also say that I thought he was unusually well-spoken last night (no comment about the content of his speech, but at least he used big words in the right context).

That said...

Will SOMEBODY PLEASE inform our president that the word "nuclear" is NOT pronounced NUK-U-LER??????

He said it about 10 times last night...his poor advisors must have been squirming backstage ("Darnit, George, if we've told you once, we've told you a thousand times...")...

OK, rant over. It's one of my major pet peeves. That, and the misspelling/mispronunciation of "chipotle".

Back to cooking.

[gertdog]

Our theory is that his advisors think it sounds like "everyday guy" language that will connect with the audience and so they don't correct it.

I got curious about alternate pronunciations and found this on the Merriam Webster site. Especially note the bit at the end about usage and pronunciation. Interesting!

Main Entry: nu·cle·ar
Pronunciation: 'nü-klE-&r, 'nyü-, ÷-ky&-l&r
Function: adjective
Date: 1846
1 : of, relating to, or constituting a nucleus
2 a : of or relating to the atomic nucleus <nuclear reaction> <nuclear physics> b : used in or produced by a nuclear reaction (as fission) <nuclear fuel> <nuclear waste> <nuclear energy> c (1) : being a weapon whose destructive power derives from an uncontrolled nuclear reaction (2) : of, produced by, or involving nuclear weapons <the nuclear age> <nuclear war> (3) : armed with nuclear weapons <nuclear powers> d : of, relating to, or powered by nuclear energy <a nuclear submarine> <the nuclear debate> <a nuclear plant>

usage Though disapproved of by many, pronunciations ending in \-ky&-l&r\ have been found in widespread use among educated speakers including scientists, lawyers, professors, congressmen, U.S. cabinet members, and at least one U.S. president and one vice president. While most common in the U.S., these pronunciations have also been heard from British and Canadian speakers.

[lorilei]

I just have to say... poor guy.

I'll admit it. The pronunciation bugs me. But that has GOT to be a regional (mis)pronunciation or something. He's not the only person I've heard pronounce it that way... in fact, in some places, I would venture a guess that it's the ONLY way the word is said.

RETURNING TO SAY:

Thanks, Stephanie... I knew there had to be a good explanation!!

[beckms]

oops, that was gertdog's explanation. I think we should just give up and change the spelling of the word.

[KathrynY]

I am glad I'm not the only one who was bothered by this pronunciation!! I must not be an "everyday guy"...

[beckms]

Um...I don't think they need to make him any more "everyday" than he already is...

Just MHO.

In his defense, though, he's probably really fun at parties.

[stefania4]

My fiance insists that Bush pronounces it correctly. We finally had to ban this as a topic of discussion.

However, I heard him speak in person a few weeks ago when he visited Atlanta, and I didn't catch any glaring errors in grammar or pronunciation.

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by beckms
Will SOMEBODY PLEASE inform our president that the word "nuclear" is NOT pronounced NUK-U-LER??????

LOL, Diana. This has always bugged my DH - he comments on it all the time!

Now, chipotle I have sympathy for - it's not exactly obvious how to pronounce it and, until recently, wasn't a particularly common household word.

[lorilei]

Originally posted by lindrusso
Now, chipotle I have sympathy for - it's not exactly obvious how to pronounce it and, until recently, wasn't a particularly common household word.

UGH.

Don't get me started on CHIP POLT TEE.... ew.ew.ew.


And I really hope that NUCLEAR isn't a household word!!!

[beckms]

stafania4: tell your fiance to talk to me. I study chemistry. Bush most definitely pronounces it wrong, at least as far as the spelling is concerned.

Now, there are schools of thought that say that common mispronunciations can become acceptable if enough people use them. I think that's what's happened to nuclear. But let me tell you, people who know what the word means and who use it every day (like chemists, physisists, etc) squirm when they hear it pronounced wrong. I mean, just look at the spelling! It's perfectly clear! There is simply no vowel between the c and the l! People would balk if someone pronounced the word "clear" as "kyu-lear", wouldn't they? Same idea.

It seems obvious to me that we jsut can't go to war when we have such serious issues to deal with right at home, like the pronunciation of words.

Can you tell I'm procrastinating studying??

[lorilei]

Originally posted by beckms
I mean, just look at the spelling! It's perfectly clear! There is simply no vowel between the c and the l!

Kinda like chipotle

Definitely doesn't look like chipolte to me ... but I digress. We all have our pet "words". I try to be tolerant... that's the best I can do.

And I think it's fascinating (linguistically) to see how words grow and change in language. Must be really frustrating to the technical people, but it's brain food for us English people

[SandyM]

Originally posted by beckms
OK, rant over. It's one of my major pet peeves. That, and the misspelling/mispronunciation of "chipotle".

I was stranded at home on Wednesday morning, waiting out traffic muddling its way through a blizzard. Normally I wouldn't be home to see it, but someone from CL was on the Today show. She made chili, and threw in minced chi-PAH-tlay peppers.

I'll admit, I've never heard anyone say chi-POHL-tay before, but this one had me scratching my head.

Perhaps it was her southern twang?

[lorilei]

Beck - you DO know I'm kidding (not harassing you evilly) about the chipotle thing, right?

And Sandy - People around here say CHI POLT EE all the time. Drives me wild.

[Molli526]

I haven't really notice about nuclear, but I think I say it wrong sometimes, so maybe that's why

On to the important stuff. I pronounce chipotle chi - poht - lay.

Is this the right way?

If not, what is???

[Grace]

I LOVE the pres - but I must admit his mispronounciation makes me (and my DH) crazy too! I keep thinking that if I ever have the opportunity to meet him, I will have to tell him! Can you imagine? "It's an honor to meet you sir, but hasn't anyone told you it's Noo-CLEE-ar?!!!!"

And I am constantly correcting the people in my office for their mispronounciation of chipotle - we have a Chipotle restaurant around here we go to a lot, so the word gets used a lot in the office, and almost everyone says it wrong.

And then there's the ever popular "Realtor" - (it's Ree-AL-tor, not REEL-a-tor).....

[claire797]

For the record, Clinton said nuclear wrong too.

[mrswaz]

I frequently get asked how to pronounce Chipotle. My answer- and it seems to help people remember- is "Remotely-Chipotle." The little rhyme helps them remember I think. (Not to mention it's kinda fun to say!)

Remember the different pronounciations for Harassment? Or the new pronounciation for terror? (Terra? What is that?) I too cringed everytime the Pres said Nu-kyu-ler. Here we go again...changing the English language.

[Molli526]

Originally posted by mrswaz
I frequently get asked how to pronounce Chipotle. My answer- and it seems to help people remember- is "Remotely-Chipotle." The little rhyme helps them remember I think. (Not to mention it's kinda fun to say!)

Hey thanks! Glad to know I am pronouncing both words correctly

[Bailey]

Originally posted by lorilei
People around here say CHI POLT EE all the time. Drives me wild.

I've heard EMERIL do this!

[Laurielee]

Thanks for informing me on Chipotle, I have always pronounced it Chipolte, I never noticed the spelling, studpid me!, So driving to work this morning they were advertising the new Subway Chipotle Sandwich. And I was thinking these hick radio announcers dont even know how to pronounce Chipolte, much less know what one is! They were saying (Chipotleh) and said Subway gave them the correct pronunciation, Of course I thought they were wrong. Okay from now on it is Chipolte, darn it is Chipotle. Boy, that is a tongue twister.

and as for Bush - I did not see him but DH also thought he had really toned done his rhetoric.
Laurie

[gertdog]

Originally posted by claire797
For the record, Clinton said nuclear wrong too.

I cringed when he said it too. I think he must be the president they're referring to in the dictionary entry.

[makarios]

The butchered pronunciation of "nuclear" makes me a bit nuts, too!

Originally posted by SandyM
I've never heard anyone say chi-POHL-tay before...

Bobby Flay pronounces it that way -- makes me cringe because, since he is an "authority" in the realm of food, people are going to learn to pronounce it the way he does.

Annoying, but I do realize there are more important things...

[stefania4]

Originally posted by mrswaz
Remember the different pronounciations for Harassment? Or the new pronounciation for terror? (Terra? What is that?)

Yes, Terra and erra (for "error") drive me crazy. Whenever they talk about a "terra" attack I start looking for my sister, Tara...

[SandyM]

Originally posted by stefania4
Whenever they talk about a "terra" attack I start looking for my sister, Tara...

Is she the violent type?

[gianttrev]

Terra- Wasn't that Willow's girlfriend on Buffy?

What is a Terraist? Someone who visits earth?

I'm reminded by that Simpson's Episode when they visit the apple farm, and Homer turns to Lisa, "It's pronounced NOOK-YOU-LER honey, Nook-you-ler"
In that ep they also hit upon foy-ledge, and lie-berry.
Next up is Feb-you-ary

[AndreaU]

Didn't Papa Bush also have 'pronuncication' problems with 'nucular'? I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

I did watch the whole speech last night and I don't usually watch GW speak, but is he always that way? He seemed to be just barely muddling through. Maybe he was just really tired- I'm sure he can't be well-rested lately. Though I will admit, he kept a decent sense of humor about the whole question & answer period.

[swquilts]

Emeril drives me batty when he says "paster" for pasta and "jalapeeeno" for jalapeno. It is a New England thing?

(Disclaimer: no New England bashing here..... )

[Gail]

I forgive the mispronunciation of chipotle. It's another language after all. And if I were to say I live near Lohs ANG-hel-less rather than the more common LOSS ANN-gell-us, (Los Angeles), people would look at me funny. However, I CANNOT bring myself to mispronounce things to the extreme. We have a street close by called Calle Major (which, correctly, should be close to CAY-yeh my-YORE.) I don't care how people squint at me; I will NOT say Cally Mayer. (shivering violently)

[beckms]

Originally posted by Gail
We have a street close by called Calle Major (which, correctly, should be close to CAY-yeh my-YORE.) I don't care how people squint at me; I will NOT say Cally Mayer. (shivering violently)

Ha. I went to school in Houston, where there are many Hispanic street names. It always made me shudder to hear San Felipe pronounced "San FILL-i-pee".



We're grammar dorks.

[Chiffonade]

How about:

pro-NOUN-ciation
orientated
ma-scar-pone (sometimes pronounced mar-sca-pone )
biz-gotti (AKA biscooooooooooooooootti through the nose)

And for real nails on a blackboard, my (least) favorite...

The Double Negative.