# It's nucular, Lisa: NUCULAR **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 12, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687 "2005-02-12T01:45:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/1 "2005-02-12T01:45:37Z")
Anyone else notice that once Bush secured re-election, his conformance to Standard American English suddenly improved? All of a sudden it seems it’s okay to refer to technology relating to the center of an atom by the term he no doubt grew up with: NUCLEAR. There’s a word for people who mask what they really are and pander to others. Okay: politician. But more generally: HYPOCRITE and LIAR and FAKE. Furthermore, since he altered his diction to exploit a perceived “down-home” image, he thought that a more northeast image would not go over with the American public as well as a more casually-educated Texan image. I, personally, don’t care what the image of people is: while there certainly is a tiny difference between those projecting different images, the difference is so small that acting on it all the time would only cause problems. Bush thinks the people DO make their decisions based on this image. Combine this with the preferred image is a non-university educated cowboy and I am forced to conclude that BUSH THINKS AMERICANS ARE STUPID. ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/2 "2005-02-12T01:52:42Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > …BUSH THINKS AMERICANS ARE STUPID. Wow. He actually got something right for once. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/3 "2005-02-12T01:58:48Z")
You know, the harping on how Bush sayss “nuclear” is just about the stupidest goddamned thing I’ve ever heard in my life, pronouncements from the current administration included. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/4 "2005-02-12T02:00:53Z")
Geez, I don’t know; I don’t much care for the man, but couldn’t it be possible that he has realized that he has been frequently ridiculed in the press for pronouncing “nuclear” incorrectly and has made a concerted effort to alter his speech? Sorry, but in true SDMB fashion I’ll have to call for a cite that he was pronouncing the word “nuclear” correctly _before_ his first political campaign, if I am to accept that the “nucular” thing was just an affectation. BTW, I bet he’s figured out that “Internet” is a singular now, too. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/5 "2005-02-12T02:01:11Z")
It was an earlier Texas President, a Democrat named Lyndon Johnson, who used to do the same thing. Whatever. Haj ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/6 "2005-02-12T02:05:57Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > It was an earlier Texas President, a Democrat named Lyndon Johnson, who used to do the same thing. Whatever. > > Haj So did Jimmy Carter, IIRC, and he served as an engineer on a nuclear sub. “Wrong” or not, that particular pronounciation is _very_ widespread, and the idea that it is some sort of accurate yardstick for intelligence or ability is absurd. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/7 "2005-02-12T02:10:43Z")
I think what **Ludovic** is saying is that GW was pandering to the non technos by using that pronunciation because he appantly recently switched to the more correct one after the election. I, personally, haven’t seen it, but I’m guessing **Lud** thinks he has. Non issue either way. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/8 "2005-02-12T02:35:07Z")
All we need is a soundbite to which we can link. While it’s possible that he did indeed conciously change his pronunciation, it’s not likely. As **Miller** correctly said, it’s not about intelligence. There have been linguistic studies about this, and, while I read them, I can’t give you a cite just now. I’ll try to do it later. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/9 "2005-02-12T02:40:39Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > As **Miller** correctly said, it’s not about intelligence. There have been linguistic studies about this, and, while I read them, I can’t give you a cite just now. I’ll try to do it later. Did I forget to mention that the actual pronunciation was a minor part of my rant? Did I not mention that I do not judge people very much\* on their outer appearance and dialect? No, the biggest part of what this shows, if true, is that Bush _believed_ he had to come across as an aw-shucks cowboy to win, and now that he has won, it’s no longer necessary. \*sometimes it’s necessary to do so for one’s safety, but given a long term ability to see the bigger picture of someone’s intellect, dialect and appearance are meaningless. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/10 "2005-02-12T02:44:04Z")
I _never_ heard “Dubya” using the correct pronunciation. My God you know what this means? 1. Boston Red Sox Win World Series 2. Dubya Bush Says “Nuclear” correctly 3. End of the World Is Shortly Forthcoming ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/11 "2005-02-12T02:45:34Z")
> [@](#): > > **Ludovic** : Anyone else notice that once Bush secured re-election, his conformance to Standard American English suddenly improved? As much as the pronunciation _nyu-kyuh-luhr_grates on my nerves, it is acceptable in _Webster’s_. Well, almost. _Webster’s_ uses the _schwa_ instead of the _uh_. (The _schwa_ gives it a _u_ sound as in _cut_ or _abut_.) “Standard American English”? There is a standard broadcast English and there are standard rules for formal written English. Spoken English embraces many dialects and usages so that there is no one standard. The pronunciation that you and I probably prefer is not limited to those from New England. It is used by all of my friends and family here in Nashville. I don’t know what the usage pattern is for Nashville or the country in general. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/12 "2005-02-12T02:51:22Z")
> [@wolf\_meister](#): > > I _never_ heard “Dubya” using the correct pronunciation. > My God you know what this means? > > 1. Boston Red Sox Win World Series > 2. Dubya Bush Says “Nuclear” correctly > 3. End of the World Is Shortly Forthcoming 1. Cats and dogs will live together. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/13 "2005-02-12T02:51:40Z")
> [@](#): > > It was an earlier Texas President, a Democrat named Lyndon Johnson, who used to do the same thing. Whatever. > [@](#): > > So did Jimmy Carter, IIRC I never liked Johnson too much, but I wasn’t around back then to notice changes in dialect. More importantly, neither of them were ever lame ducks, so in a sense we never got to test if that was their dialect of choice or if they too were putting out false airs. What really chaps my hide is the implication of the argument that “a down-home dialect improves your chances of winning.” It implies that people are against those who use “overly-educated” dialects. When listening to Bill Clinton, my view of his policy opinions did not differ based on how he chose to speak that particular day. My view of Bush’s policies are affected by his speech only inasmuch as I don’t trust his fakey demeanor. Now, to all those who averred that dialect does not imply intelligence or abilities: if the American people did, indeed, make their choice based on dialect, they are, indeed, stupid. While I think this is true I don’t believe it to be true as much as Bush and his advisors apparently did. It’s fairly condescending. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/14 "2005-02-12T02:59:37Z")
**Lud** said: > [@](#): > > What really chaps my hide is the implication of the argument that “a down-home dialect improves your chances of winning.” It implies that people are against those who use “overly-educated” dialects Remember that reporter (or article) that said that Kerry wasn’t American enough b/c he was fluent in French? God knows we need a widely travelled, sophisticated Pres–too bad Joe America feels alienated by just those qualities. ---
**Author:** ![FaerieBeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/15 "2005-02-12T03:09:16Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > 1. Cats and dogs will live together. 1. Mass hysteria ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/16 "2005-02-12T05:28:11Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > All we need is a soundbite to which we can link. While it’s possible that he did indeed conciously change his pronunciation, it’s not likely. > > As **Miller** correctly said, it’s not about intelligence. There have been linguistic studies about this, and, while I read them, I can’t give you a cite just now. I’ll try to do it later. Eisenhower said “nucular” also. Here’s an explanation from one linguist, James L. Fidelholtz, Ph. D.: [http://www.linguistlist.org/~ask-ling/archive-1997.5/msg00358.html](http://www.linguistlist.org/~ask-ling/archive-1997.5/msg00358.html) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/17 "2005-02-12T05:34:51Z")
> [@FaerieBeth](#): > > 1. Mass hysteria 1. William Atherton covered in marshmallow. ---
**Author:** ![Talon\_Karrde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Talon\_Karrde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Talon_Karrde)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/18 "2005-02-12T05:43:00Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > So did Jimmy Carter, IIRC, and he served as an engineer on a nuclear sub. “Wrong” or not, that particular pronounciation is _very_ widespread, and the idea that it is some sort of accurate yardstick for intelligence or ability is absurd. I believe what the OP is pitting is that while he used to pronounce it “nucular”, he’s now pronouncing it correctly. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/19 "2005-02-12T05:46:44Z")
Okay folks I’m from Boston (where the owls say ‘whom’). Maybe it is my stuck-up blueblood upbringing (actually it was middle class) but here we like to speak proper English. And I think it is the way ALL people should be speaking. No, I don’t think all Americans should say “BARTH” or “LARF”. And I don’t care if you have an accent be it Southern or Texan or foreign. However, my opinion of a person’s knowledge (and yes maybe intelligence) is lowered when I hear mispronunciations such as NOOK-YA-LAR. Okay Dopers, what would you think of someone if they pronounced Goethe as GO-THEE Freud as FROOD faux pas as FOX PASS ? Would you hire someone who used pronunciations such as JOO-LA-REE, REE-LA-TEE, LI-BERRY ? How would you feel about a neurosurgeon who says that he will be making an _incisson_ into your _cramiun_ ? I for one am glad that surgeon is _NOT_ an elected position !!! Well go ahead, it’s time to play “pounce on this posting”. ---
**Author:** ![BabaBooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dfb087/32.png) [@BabaBooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BabaBooey)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2005, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687/20 "2005-02-12T06:07:26Z")
This is one of the shittiest pit threads I’ve read in a while, just as bad as the people that looked down upon Kerry’s speaking French. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-nucular-lisa-nucular/289687.md?page=2)