Sunday, November 3, 2013

"Nuclear" and "Jewelry"


       I don't like hearing [NEW-kya-lar] instead of [NEW-klee-yar].   The "l" comes after the "c," not a vowel.  Merriam-Webster seems ready to accept either pronunciation because some educated and prominent people use [NEW-kya-lar].

       I have heard an occasional educated person pronounce "jewelry" as [JEW-luh-ree] instead of [JEW-uhl-ree].  But no; the "e" comes before the "l", not after it.  Would Merriam-Webster accept [luh]?

      The apparent challenge in pronouncing "nuclear" is almost all the sounds are produced in the upper part of the mouth with the tongue moving from front to back to front then middle of the mouth, making it effortful to get all the sounds in in the right order.  Only the effort needs to be made...say I, and many others!    

      

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