Cavalry, calvary and colloquial uasage.

[Blake]

@Keeve

Yes, I do realize this. In fact, that’s why I chose such extremely common examples, and that’s the very point I’m trying to make: These changes are natural, normal, and should be expected.

And that people who say “Wendsday” shouldn’t complain about those who say “nucular”.

Yeah, they should. The reason Wednesday is pronounced differently to its spelling is because the spelling was standardised centuries, if not milennia, after the pronunciation. There was never a time when the word was pronounced as spelled, there was never s time when “Weden’s day” was an incorrect pronunciation. If anything “Wednesday” was an incorrect spelling of the way the word has always been pronounced.

Compare that with “nuclear”: a very different situation. The word has only existed in this context for a century. There has always been a very clear, correct pronunciation and the spelling reflects that pronunciation. “Nucular” is a lazy and incorrect pronunciation in every English dialect. It isn’t a dialectical variant. It isn’t an original pronunciation. It’s just plain wrong.

[smiling_bandit]

@Blake

Yeah, they should. The reason Wednesday is pronounced differently to its spelling is because the spelling was standardised centuries, if not milennia, after the pronunciation. There was never a time when the word was pronounced as spelled, there was never s time when “Weden’s day” was an incorrect pronunciation. If anything “Wednesday” was an incorrect spelling of the way the word has always been pronounced.

If you would kindly read the above again, you will note there is a difference between the common and perfectly fine “Wednesday” and “Woden’s Day” in pronunciation.

Compare that with “nuclear”: a very different situation. The word has only existed in this context for a century. There has always been a very clear, correct pronunciation and the spelling reflects that pronunciation. “Nucular” is a lazy and incorrect pronunciation in every English dialect. It isn’t a dialectical variant. It isn’t an original pronunciation. It’s just plain wrong.

Judgemental, much? There are a lot of people who, along with a heck of a lot of people around them, pronounce it that very way. They know exactly what they’re takling about and so do we. It’s correct enough for English.

This isn’t French. There’s no National Grammar Service to enforce proper language. Deal with it.

[Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker]

@smiling_bandit

There are a lot of people who, along with a heck of a lot of people around them, pronounce [nuclear] that very way. They know exactly what they’re takling about and so do we. It’s correct enough for English.

Also marked in M-W with an obelus (as with the other cite mentioned above).

[UncleRojelio]

@awldune

ˈæstərɪks
ˈkælvəri
ˈkʌmftərbəl
ˈfɔɪlɪdʒ
ɪntərˈdjuːs
ˈɪntrɪɡəl
ˈnjuːkjələr
ˈpərti
ˈrɛvələnt

If I were curious about what all that gobbeldygook meant, where would I go to find out?

[DSeid]

FWIW

… former President Dwight Eisenhower and Edward Teller, the father of the H-bomb, also said “nukular.” Now comes a new book that defends them. In Physics for Future Presidents, Prof. Richard Muller of the University of California says the pronunciation “has been a tradition at some of our weapons labs since World War II.” He says it derives from the “combination of ‘nuke’ with the ending ‘-ular’ inspired by similar words such as spectacular, popular, and molecular.”

Bill Clinton apparently said it both ways.

No, there has not “always been a very clear, correct pronunciation.” Both have always been used.

And my petty annoyance is when people write “loose” for “lose” … I hate that.

[awldune]

@UncleRojelio

If I were curious about what all that gobbeldygook meant, where would I go to find out?

International Phonetic Alphabet

Edit: actually, this is probably more useful to the novice:

Sound correspondences between English accents

[Keeve]

@Blake

Yeah, they should. The reason Wednesday is pronounced differently to its spelling is because the spelling was standardised centuries, if not milennia, after the pronunciation. There was never a time when the word was pronounced as spelled, there was never s time when “Weden’s day” was an incorrect pronunciation. If anything “Wednesday” was an incorrect spelling of the way the word has always been pronounced.

I have no idea what you are saying. If you are saying that it is correct to pronounce the “n” before the “d”, then how does that name of Woden justify that?

[Xema]

@TreacherousCretin

Are you referring to Jimmie Carter? Because I never heard him say “nuclear” OR “nukular”; he always pronounced it “noo- kee-ur.”

There seems to be disagreement as to his pronunciation - but a general sense that he had little use for “nu-clear”.

[TreacherousCretin]

@Xema

There seems to be disagreement as to his pronunciation - but a general sense that he had little use for “nu-clear”.

Interesting link. I always heard him say nukear, and only read/heard references to his pronouncing it that way, but am happy to now stand corrected. Ignorance fought.

For whatever it’s worth, I voted for Jimmie, liked him then, and still do. “Nukular” makes me cringe, but JC’s “nukear” always cracked me up.

.
Edit: “There seems to be disagreement” - or in English, you were to too polite to just say I was wrong. Thank you.

[AskNott]

I have changed my attitude toward all that pronunciation stuff. These days, I’m less likely to correct others’ errors, as long as the meaning is clear. I think all those announcers know how to say integral and communication, but they can’t get their mouths to do it.

If you say all four syllables of vegetable, it’s easier to remember how to spell it. People look at me funny when I say it that way, though.