ADS-L had a discussion on this some years back, and I pointed out then
that /nuky@l@r/ in place of /nukli@r/ probably reflects the fact that we
have lots of words that end in /-ky@l@r/, like secular, particular,
macular, etc. and very few end in /-ky@[log in to unmask] So the former
pronunciation is chosen by analogy to the more common word ending.
Herb
-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Spruiell, William C
Sent: 2008-02-06 16:46
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: McCain, Obama, Clinton...Who has the best grammar?
As a Southerner, I can rather confidently say two things about
"nuclear":
(1) The default pronunciation for a great many of us is "nyukyuler"
(2) We *know* that's not the standard pronunciation.
In other words, "nyukyuler" is rather like "libary"; it's not surprising
to encounter it in some situations (home, speaking with friends, talking
to people from the same area), but it is surprising to encounter it in
others (press conferences directed at a national audience).
It's always dangerous to think you know exactly why someone is making a
particular linguistic choice (this is the linguist's equivalent of the
literary critic's "intentional fallacy"). I obviously don't *know* why
Bush does this, but of course I can't resist making hypotheses (biased
ones, naturally). From a Southerner who worked in a Southern community
and didn't have to deal frequently with a national audience, it would
seem to be simply dialect on auto-pilot. From Bush II, it comes across
to me as less a case of "not sounding intellectual" than of "being
anti-intellectual" -- there's almost an aggressive, "I have power and
can do this and there isn't jack you can do about it" sense to it. In
other words, he can *too* talk back to his third-grade English teacher.
So there!
Bill Spruiell
Dept. of English
Central Michigan University
[And of course, particularly in a political thread, my views should not
be taken as indicative of those of my institution, my department, or
probably rational people in general]
-----Original Message-----
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Katz, Seth
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 1:29 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: McCain, Obama, Clinton...Who has the best grammar?
On GW Bush saying "nucular" (as did Jimmy Carter--who was a nuclear
engineer!): I have heard tell that in the televised Texas gubernatorial
debates, Bush did not speak as he has for the past 8 years, but rather
sounded much more like the articulate, Yale-educated, upper-class
Northeasterner that he actually is. The folksy, aw-shucks,
malapropistic Bush is a character that he and his handlers created to
make him a more marketable candidate. Does anyone know if this is true:
that Bush did not always speak publicly as he does now?
BTW: I do not believe that Bill Clinton, George HW Bush, or Ronald
Reagan said "nucular."
Best--
Seth
Dr. Seth Katz
Assistant Professor
Department of English
Bradley University
________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar on behalf of Carol
Morrison
Sent: Wed 2/6/2008 11:57 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: McCain, Obama, Clinton...Who has the best grammar?
Yes, every time Bush says "nucular" it makes me cringe!
Patricia Lafayllve <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Purely from a public speaking standpoint, all three do fairly
well. McCain strives for an "everyman" approach, Clinton goes for
"Powerful Woman" in her voice, and Obama is leaning toward an almost
call-and-response flavor. I did hear Obama promise to pronounce the
word "nuclear" as...well..."nuclear," which made me chuckle.
-patty
________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carol Morrison
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2008 10:18 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: McCain, Obama, Clinton...Who has the best grammar?
I am curious to see which of the candidates has the best grammar
and who is the most well-spoken. I will be listening attentively to
upcoming speeches, interviews, and press conferences. It would be nice
to have a president who has a strong command of the English language.
That person will get my vote (maybe). Any favorites?
CLM
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