Of course Pinker was not "championing" this pronunciation, but merely explaining it--what linguistic processes might lead people to pronounce it one way or another. The question of whether it is the "right" or "wrong" pronunciation is determined by a speech community, as Rick notes. One can indeed change the way one pronounces words, based on exposure to a different dialect or variety--including exposure to what has been deemed more standard in academic communities. Is it really less intelligent to pronounce it "nucular"? Of course not, but it does reveal less concern about one's pronunciation matching the spelling of the word or the standards of American educational norms.
Pinker's argument is coming out of a descriptive (and explanatory) linguistics, not a prescriptive linguistics. Terry BTW, I prefer "noo-clee-er," although some dialects prefer "nyoo-clee- er" On Oct 10, 2008, at 11:42 AM, beth benoit wrote: > Sorry, Rick, I don't agree. I think where you were raised and how > people > spoke around you doesn't give you a blank check to mispronounce > words. My > mother, for example, always pronounced ego "A-go." (Sounds like the > waffles...) BUT once I learned a little more, I quickly revised my > own > pronunciation. It may not be a link to intelligence, but I defend > it as at > least linked to learning and education. My mother was educated, > but always > scornful of people's interest in psychology as being a result of > their being > only interested "in themselves and studying their own > navels." (Obviously, > I went into psychology anyhow, though I never found my own navel of > particular interest.) > Beth Benoit > > -----Original Message----- > From: Rick Froman [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, October 10, 2008 12:26 PM > To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) > Subject: RE: [tips] Stephen Pinker champions "nuc-u-lar"??? > > Might it be culturally insensitive, at best, and fill-in-the-blank, at > worst, in many situations to link intelligence with pronunciation > of any > particular word? Has it really come to that on a professional list? > I would > say how you pronounce something is tied almost entirely to where > you were > raised and how people spoke around you. In some cases, as a person's > environment changes, their pronunciation may also change. Some > politicians > are even able to change the pronunciation of a word depending on > who they > are around and to whom they may be appealing. For a very interesting > linguistic analysis of why this particular pronunciation is common, > see: > http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Transwiki:Nucular. You might want to > hurry > because the entry is "marked for deletion". > > Rick > > Dr. Rick Froman, Chair > Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Box 3055 > x7295 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://tinyurl.com/DrFroman > > Proverbs 14:15 "A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man > gives > thought to his steps." > > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Terry Gottfried Professor of Psychology Lawrence University Appleton, WI 54912-0599 [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
