# ­xkcd thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comic-strips\ **Created:** [May 28, 2020, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574 "2020-05-28T00:57:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 82
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1622 "2022-08-26T11:42:17Z")
Spent much of my adult life in Virginia, where we voted for governor and state legislature on the odd years. So including primaries, a Virginian could vote twice a year. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2022, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1623 "2022-08-26T14:05:52Z")
Many municipalities and school boards have elections in off years as well. That, along with various special elections and issues, I probably vote around 5 times every 4 years. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2022, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1624 "2022-08-27T06:54:32Z")
> **[Cloud Swirls](https://xkcd.com/2664/)** > > 'Why did you get into fluid dynamics?' 'Well, SOME planet has to have the coolest clouds, odds are it's not ours, and rockets are slow.' ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1625 "2022-08-30T05:30:39Z")
> **[America Songs](https://xkcd.com/2665/)** > > Juraaaassic Park, Juraaaassic Park, God shed his grace on theeeee ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1626 "2022-08-30T13:28:42Z")
I’d say Australia is stretching it. (It’s normally said in three syllables.) ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1627 "2022-08-30T13:57:07Z")
Poetic license. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1628 "2022-08-30T14:23:05Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It’s normally said in three syllables. Claiming “normally” on the pronounciation of a word is usually a fool’s errand. In this case, I give full value to both syllables in the ending “-ia” suffix, so four syllables for me. And, as much as I can tell from recollection of listening to others, four syllables for them as well. (From a formal linguistics perspective, is the ending treated as a diphthong? And if so, does that make officially monosyllabic?) ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1629 "2022-08-30T14:25:06Z")
🎵 On the boats and on the planes, They’re coming to S-D-M-B. Never looking back again, They’re coming to S-D-M-B. 🎵 ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1630 "2022-08-30T14:40:37Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Claiming “normally” on the pronounciation of a word is usually a fool’s errand. In this case, I give full value to both syllables in the ending “-ia” suffix, so four syllables for me. And, as much as I can tell from recollection of listening to others, four syllables for them as well. I’ve never heard Australia pronounced with four syllables, like it could replace Albania in the old Cheers bit: “Albania, Albania, You Border On The Adriatic.” I pronounce it (and have only ever heard it pronounced) like Aw Strale Ya. ---
**Author:** ![Teuton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teuton/32/3864_2.png) [@Teuton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teuton)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1631 "2022-08-30T15:08:55Z")
I pronounce it ‘Or stray lee ah’ and, if the cricket commentary is anything to go by, so do Australians. Some of them, anyway. Edit: if anything, I miss out the ‘Or’ ---
**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:** [August 30, 2022, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1632 "2022-08-30T15:15:31Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > I’ve never heard Australia pronounced with four syllables, like it could replace Albania in the old Cheers bit: “Albania, Albania, You Border On The Adriatic.” I can’t think of any grammatical reason why Australia and Albania should be pronounced differently in this regard. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1633 "2022-08-30T15:16:00Z")
Yeah google says I’m wrong, spelling out the four distinct syllables. But then the little sound file it plays to demonstrate sounds like three syllables to me. So I guess I just hear it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1634 "2022-08-30T15:19:13Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I can’t think of any grammatical reason why Australia and Albania should be pronounced differently in this regard. I find it very difficult to make my mouth form the syllables when trying to replace Albania with Australia in Coach’s song. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XhXDcxAM0zc/hqdefault.jpg "Cheers best bits | S03E16 | "Albania! Albania!"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhXDcxAM0zc) EDIT: I think I can describe the trouble I have. When saying ‘ya’, the middle/back of your tongue goes up toward the roof of your mouth. But saying ‘lee uh’ it does not. My brain keeps unconsciously trying to lift my tongue to do the ya sound at the start of the third syllable, so I stumble and have to just switch to saying lee uh. I noticed that Google voice has no trouble recognizing Australia if I sing it like Coach’s Albania. And I had no trouble just now while checking. There’s a very real possibility I’m having a Connecticut accent issue. EDIT 2: So wait, how many syllables does California have? For me it’s four, the same way Australia has three, so for you guys you pronounce California with five syllables? The way I pronounce them, California and Albania sound different after the n. (KAL eh FORN ya and al BAY knee uh) ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1635 "2022-08-30T16:00:02Z")
I pronounce it “Cal-uh-forn-eye-YAY.” Just kidding. I think almost everybody gives California four syllables, but with _ia_ endings in general, there are those in which the _ia_ is clearly one syllable (pneumonia, fuchsia, Asia), those in which it is clearly two (sangria, trivia, bacteria), and a few in which either sounds right (amnesia, absentia, paraphernalia). Just one of those weird language things, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1636 "2022-08-30T19:23:56Z")
South Africa also works. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1637 "2022-09-01T02:51:40Z")
> **[Universe Price Tiers](https://xkcd.com/2666/)** > > In Universe Pro®™ the laws of physics remain unchanged under time reversal, to maintain backward compatibility. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1638 "2022-09-01T03:59:21Z")
Saskatchewan is four syllables, but different rhythm. Plus, Randall spelt it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1639 "2022-09-01T04:10:24Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Saskatchewan is four syllables It’s about 2 1/2 syllables when I say it. ---
**Author:** ![Wallaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/dc4da7/32.png) [@Wallaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallaby)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1640 "2022-09-01T12:22:06Z")
Odd that he didnt include Virginia in that case. But he did include Virginia beach. No one in Australia says Aust-ral-i-a. And it’s our country. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2022, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574/1641 "2022-09-01T13:13:36Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > Saskatchewan is four syllables, but different rhythm. Which syllable is the accent on? I’ve definitely heard it with the accent on the second syllable before. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574.md?page=81) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/xkcd-thread/854574.md?page=83)