Why do people say "noo kyoo lur" instead of "noo klee ur"?

Question

....and be careful what you say....our President says it wrong, too.

Answer 1

Check your dictionary...both pronunciations are acceptable. But as to why...the best reason I've heard is due to a type of reading issue. When some people look at the word "Nuclear" they see a blending and mixing of the letters "nuculear." It's mainly due to the types of letters that are close to one another. That isn't to suggest the President sees it that way...only that someone did who influenced his speech.

Another suggestion is the regionalization of language. Every region in the United States has its own dialect. West Texas dialect is different than East Texas, South Texas, North Texas or even Central Texas. The dialect in Houston is different than in other parts of the state. For example, people in the Houston area (natives) don't usually pronounce the "h" in the city's name. I grew up in West Texas, and I can assure you that people there have a very distinctive dialect. "Noo kyoo lur" is common there, even among those of us with advanced degrees (mine is in English, no less!). Wait 'til you hear us try to pronounce that black stuff that comes out of the ground (or that USED to come out of the ground)!

Answer 2

Nuclear is pronounced Nuculer by the same people who pronounce Library as Libary, February as Febuary and Police as Pohlease. And, as you pointed out, W. is amoung them.

Answer 3

It's the way I've always heard it. Seriously, you hang around Midland TX, that's the way folks talk. No more "wrong" than folks from Brooklyn saying "youse"

Answer 4

Some people just don't know that their is a proper pronunciation. It's no different than a kid saying libary instead of library.

Answer 5

They are trying to curry favor with George Bush by saying it the same way he did once.

Answer 6

Oh nuclear!! flipping 'eck I must be tired. Well I say nuclear because I know how to say it because I'm English, but my sister says nucular because she can't say nuclear, but I can't say nucular anyway, I'd say it as nuclear even if nucular was correct.

Answer 7

Because they think the word "nuclear" is based on the idea of "nuking" other nations

Answer 8

i say it noo-klee-er. 2 points, 2 points! oh boy!

Answer 9

actually, i've been under the impression that the way the president says it is indeed acceptable. it one of those words that has more than one possible pronuciations.

Answer 10

I don't get it. What are you saying?
I failed hooked on phonics....
I dropped out of Sylvan Learning Center, because I didn't learn.
Just don't put one of them thar thangys up in my back yard.
Mmmmk?