# I have an Idear! Learn how to say IDEA! (Hint: drop the "r") **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 17, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475 "2003-12-17T05:18:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/1 "2003-12-17T05:18:39Z")
I just heard a few chunks of Howard Dean’s address to the Pacific Council in Los Angeles. It was pretty good. He took many points, set them up, discussed them. I’m not saying he’d last long on the SDMB, but at least he spoke better than most politicians I’ve heard in the past 2 1/2 years. At least, until he spoke of his ideas. Well, not ideas per se. IDEARS. He wasn’t the sharpest public speaker I’ve heard. But he made several good points. It was his IDEARS that scared me. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m from Minnesota. I say such travesties to the English language as “Wanna come with?” and “You Betcha”. But I am not currently running for office. I do run _to_ my office occasionally, but only when I need to fart in private, or when I hear my phone ringing. But as a normal, every day, beer drinking, pickup driving, (sans flag) office farting, red blooded Merican male, I found myself cringing every time I heard the man who’s goal is to be the leader of the free world telling me that he had an\* idear.\* If a man told me that he had an idear on what bait to use, I’d listen. If a man told me that he had an idear on why I’m on my second high pressure hose on my power steering pump, I’d take a listen. But when a man makes valid point after point on the current administrations failings on foreign and domestic policy, I want to get a firm understanding on what his policies, agendas, and solutions are to the complexities of today’s world. I sure as hell don’t want to hear his idears. Mr. Dean. Please repeat after me. Eye-Dee-YA. I-d-ea Idea Eye-Dee-Ya. No “r”. ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/2 "2003-12-17T05:25:35Z")
You think he sounds bad, you should live in this state! Seriously, though, I don’t really understand what it is about regional accents that has people so bothered. ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/3 "2003-12-17T05:36:13Z")
Ah yes, New England Migrating “R” Syndrome. See the deal is that basically the “R” factor needs to be stabilised. Therefore, all the "r"s that are dropped for words such as “park,” “here,” “car” and the like are added to words that don’t need them-such as “idea,” “data” etc. “Datar Entry” was my favourite phrase when I worked in Peabody. I find it charming (chah-ming) myself but then again, I have some New England roots. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/4 "2003-12-17T05:36:37Z")
I’m just trying to figure out where the hell the “r” comes from. I? Nope. D? Nope. E? Nope. A? Nope. Put them together, suddenly it’s idear. I don’t have a problem with regional accents. I just think that those who are running for national office should learn pronunciation. Be it “Idea” or “Nuclear” ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/5 "2003-12-17T05:55:35Z")
> [@](#): > > I don’t have a problem with regional accents. I just think that those who are running for national office should learn pronunciation. I don’t have a problem with regional accents. I just think that those who are running for national office should talk good like me. ---
**Author:** ![Dizzy\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dizzy\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dizzy_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/6 "2003-12-17T06:03:48Z")
I knew this one New Englander who had a korea working in North Career. . . ---
**Author:** ![The\_Long\_Road](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5a626/32.png) [@The\_Long\_Road](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Long_Road)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/7 "2003-12-17T06:12:16Z")
Around here the new thing(or maybe old thing) is to pronounce human as “uman”. The H is not silent!!! This is not just happening with the people you meet on the street, I’ve heard multiple local talk radio people pronouncing it this way. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/8 "2003-12-17T06:21:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NurseCarmen \* > \*\*I’m just trying to figure out where the hell the “r” comes from. > I? Nope. > D? Nope. > E? Nope. > A? Nope. > > Put them together, suddenly it’s idear. \*\* Spelling has jack shit to do with pronounciation, you realize. Hell, in the word pronounciation itself, ‘noun’ is ‘nun’ and ‘tion’ is ‘shun’. Where the hell does the ‘sh’ come from? It’s T-I, ferchrissakes! ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/9 "2003-12-17T06:25:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by NurseCarmen \* > \*\*I’m just trying to figure out where the hell the “r” comes from. > I? Nope. > D? Nope. > E? Nope. > A? Nope. > > Put them together, suddenly it’s idear. > \*\* Same place the “r” comes from in ‘colonel’. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_in\_NM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8baadc/32.png) [@Carl\_in\_NM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_in_NM)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/10 "2003-12-17T06:25:53Z")
Hmmmmmmm, Maybe you could try to warsh his mouth out with soap. Whaddya think of that ideal? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/11 "2003-12-17T06:27:48Z")
Adding on, because I know someone will correct me… Spelling does correspond to pronounciation in most respects, yes. But spelling does not _determine_ pronounciation. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lodoen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b3f665/32.png) [@Jeff\_Lodoen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lodoen)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/12 "2003-12-17T06:51:54Z")
Sign seen at a park in Virginia: NO DOGS ALLOWED IN THE PICNIC AREAR ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/13 "2003-12-17T07:52:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BayleDomon \* > \*\*Spelling has jack shit to do with pronounciation, you realize. Hell, in the word pronounciation itself, ‘noun’ is ‘nun’ and ‘tion’ is ‘shun’. Where the hell does the ‘sh’ come from? It’s T-I, ferchrissakes! \*\* Spelling has more to do with pro **nun** ciation than you think. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/14 "2003-12-17T08:22:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dijon Warlock \* > \*\*Same place the “r” comes from in ‘colonel’. \*\* Spanish? (Colonal is a derivation of the Spanish _Coronal_, from the ceremonial crown - corona - high ranking officers would wear). ---
**Author:** ![umop\_ap\_sdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/dbc845/32.png) [@umop\_ap\_sdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/umop_ap_sdn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/15 "2003-12-17T09:17:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by anu-la1979 \* > \*\*Ah yes, New England Migrating “R” Syndrome. See the deal is that basically the “R” factor needs to be stabilised. Therefore, all the "r"s that are dropped for words such as “park,” “here,” “car” and the like are added to words that don’t need them-such as “idea,” “data” etc. \*\* I thought the "r"s migrated to other parts of the country. Like when a Bostoner “pahks” his “cah”, causing a Texan to “warsh” his car. Or something like that. It was in an OMNI magazine several years ago. (BTW I’m from New England too.) > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BayleDomon \* > \*\*Where the hell does the ‘sh’ come from? It’s T-I, ferchrissakes! \*\* Those 4 letters are an indication that the pronounciation rules of the English language are shit. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kp\_72110](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e68b1a/32.png) [@kp\_72110](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kp_72110)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/16 "2003-12-17T12:22:42Z")
When I worked reservations for Budget Rent A Car it always made me laugh when they wanted to reserve a car In Tamper, Florider. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/17 "2003-12-17T13:12:57Z")
Doesn’t surprise me this is a New England thing - it’s an English thing as well, as far as my experience goes (not necessarily Brit, though). Turn on BBC, and you’ll hear the public’s _idears_ about the latest _Madonnar_ album, and so forth. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/18 "2003-12-17T13:13:51Z")
New Englanders do this because they inherited it from the British. If they follow a word ending with a vowel sound with a word beginning with a vowel sound (i.e., “data entry”) they add an R in between. Haven’t you ever heard a Brit do this? As the Beatles once sang: > [@](#): > > I sawr a film today, oh boy… I don’t like it either, but we just have to accept it. We damn Yankees have no business lecturing the British in English pronunciation. ---
**Author:** ![Arcite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/67e7ee/32.png) [@Arcite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arcite)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/19 "2003-12-17T13:16:06Z")
Beaten to the punch, I see. Another thing that irks me about British pronunciation is the word “figure.” They say “figger.” It just sounds somehow… semi-literate. Yet, it’s their language. ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475/20 "2003-12-17T13:22:03Z")
They do? Can’t say I ever heard that particular one. Fig-yoor is more like it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-an-idear-learn-how-to-say-idea-hint-drop-the-r/219475.md?page=2)