Nucular is an ad-hoc spelling of a metathesis of the word nuclear, representing the IPA: /ˈnjuːkjələr/ (NEW-cue-lurr) pronunciation of that word instead of the correct /ˈnjuːkliːɚ/ (NUKE-lee-urr). This pronunciation is disapproved, although some dictionaries recognize it because of its increasing usage. [1]
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Lexical notes
Merriam-Webster dictionary: [1]
- "Though disapproved of by many, pronunciations ending in [kjə.lə(ɹ)] have been found in widespread use among educated speakers, including scientists, lawyers, professors, congressmen, United States cabinet members, and at least two United States presidents and one vice president, who are, in other respects, educated. While most common in the United States, these pronunciations have also been heard from British and Canadian speakers."
- "The colloquial pronunciation … has been criticized in usage guides since at least the mid-20th century, although it is now commonly given as a variant in modern dictionaries."
- "The pronunciation (noo'kyə-lər), which is generally considered incorrect, is an example of how a familiar phonological pattern can influence an unfamiliar one … [since] much more common is the similar sequence (-kyə-lər), which occurs in words like particular, circular, spectacular, and in many scientific words like molecular, ocular, and vascular."
Merriam-Webster receives enough questions about their inclusion of this pronunciation in the dictionary that it is one of two pronunciations which receive particular mention in their FAQ (along with "February").[2]
Usage by politicians
U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Jimmy Carter (who served as an officer on a United States Navy experimental nuclear submarine[3]), Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush have all used this pronunciation.[4][5][6]
Phonotactical motivation
The principle which converts nuclear to nucular is founded in the phonotactics of the English language.
- By assimilation, the [kli.ər] sequence of the word [n(j)uː.kli.ər] becomes [kljər] in natural speech.
- The consonant cluster [klj] is strongly disfavoured in English: English stops are followed by one approximant at most.
- The disfavoured cluster [klj] is reduced. That reduction is achieved through metathesis ([l] and [jə] are swapped so that [kljər] becomes [kjəl(ə)r]).
This is probably influenced by other adjectives in the science technical terminology that end in -cular (molecular, particular etc.). Latin has the diminutive suffix, "-ul-"; the suffix is used in various scientific terms, including "annulus" (little ring), "globule" (little globe), etc.
Usage in popular entertainment
"Nucular" is the pronunciation preferred by Homer Simpson, a safety operator at a nuclear power plant. His confident use of it in The Simpsons exemplifies a level of cultural information that is largely overheard at some distance, second-hand, rather than read. For example, in the episode "Simpson Tide", Homer uses it in correcting the captain of a nuclear submarine.[7] In one episode of The Simpsons, Marge pronounces the word "foliage" as if it were "foilage". Lisa corrects her but Marge replies that it "doesn't take a nucular scientist to pronounce foilage." The entire argument was parodied on one episode of Family Guy, in which Peter says to Lois, "Haha! You said nuclear; it's nucular, dummy; the 's' is silent."[8] Jack Bauer and other characters of the FOX television show 24 can often be heard using the pronunciation. The Venture Bros. features a scene in which Dr. Venture corrects the president on the pronunciation of the word. The current President of the United States, George W. Bush, often uses this pronunciation as well. This has been the subject of numerous jokes on late night comedic talk shows, including, in the USA, The Late Show with David Letterman and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and in many other parodies worldwide.
References
- ^ Arnold Zwicky (June 29 2004). The thin line between error and mere variation. Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
- ^ Your pronunciations of "February" and "nuclear" are wrong! How can you say they are correct?. Merriam-Webster online. Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
- ^ Jimmy Carter. Encarta. Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
- ^ Geoff Nunberg. Going Nucular. Fresh Air commentary on NPR. Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
- ^ Kate Taylor. Why Does Bush Go "Nucular"?. Slate. Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
- ^ William Safire. Nuclear Options. New York Times. Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
- ^ Simpson Tide. The Simpsons Archive. Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
- ^ Family Guy:DaBoom. TV.com. Retrieved on 2006-10-23.
