Quote:
Originally posted by The Truth Hurts
Did you actually click either link to listen to either of the two acceptable pronunciations?
|
Yes, I listened to them, but Webster's also says:
"We do not list the pronunciation of "nuclear" as \'nü-ky&-l&r\ as an "acceptable" alternative. We merely list it as an alternative. It is clearly preceded by the obelus mark \÷\. This mark indicates "a pronunciation variant that occurs in educated speech but that is considered by some to be questionable or unacceptable." A full description of this can be found in the Guide to Pronunciation on our website at
http://www.m-w.com/pronguid.htm. We are definitely not advocating that anyone should use the pronunciation \'nü-ky&-l&r\ or that they should abandon the pronunciation \'nü-klE-&r\. "
Why Does Bush Go "Nucular"
Webster's Response
You'll also notice that m-w.com lists things like "eksetera" as a pronunciation of "etcetera". ...just because people say it... not because it is correct.