Missives from the 6th Floor: If you can't pronounce it, stay the hell away from it...

August 9, 2008

I caught a statement from some policy wonk on the radio about Iran's "nucular" program.

Is it that fucking hard to pronounce nuclear? I mean really.

New. Clear.

You say it pretty much like you spell it. (Perhaps they can't spell, or read.)

If you can't say the word, you should be disqualified from being involved, in any way, with US policy on the subject.

Posted by dberger at August 9, 2008 3:03 PM

Dude, I know -- it so hurts the ears. But the sad truth is that it's gradually finding its way into the vernacular:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nucular

Merriam-Webster's unabridged cites both pronunciations as acceptable:

n(y)ükleə(r), ÷ -kyələ(r)

Still, though -- yeah. :)

Posted by: Christian Nunciato at August 10, 2008 8:19 AM