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Poll

How do you pronounce "poinsettia"?

poin-sett-a
11 (61.1%)
poin-sett-i-a
5 (27.8%)
I only call it by its native Nahuatl name, cuetlaxochitl
2 (11.1%)

Total Members Voted: 18

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Offline Tante Shvester

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« Reply #25 on: December 17, 2008, 12:05:34 AM »
I grew up saying "FEB-you-rare-ee", but now I say "FEH-brew-airy".

I also used to pronounce "coupon" as "KYEW-pon" when I was growing up, but now I say "COO-pon".

And for "route", I still switch back and forth between "root" and "rowt".
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Offline Jonathon

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« Reply #26 on: December 17, 2008, 08:13:13 AM »
How are you defining "superfluous", Porter? And anyway, I already explained how those two words are phonologically quite different from poinsettia.

Also, I say "WEN(D)Z-day" and "FEB-yoo-air-y".
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Offline Neutros the Radioactive Dragon

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« Reply #27 on: December 17, 2008, 08:14:28 AM »
Quote
I grew up saying "FEB-you-rare-ee", but now I say "FEH-brew-airy".

I also used to pronounce "coupon" as "KYEW-pon" when I was growing up, but now I say "COO-pon".

And for "route", I still switch back and forth between "root" and "rowt".
Tante. Get. Out. Of. My. Head.

I was thinking about both Wednesday and February this morning, then I find that you've posted.

I say "wendz-day", but when I spell it I think "wed-nes-day" to help remember the spelling.

No one seems to notice that I have always pronounced the second month of the calendar year "feb-ru-ary".

"coo-pon"

"rowt".

We seem to have the same accent.
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Offline Porter

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« Reply #28 on: December 17, 2008, 08:23:45 AM »
Quote
How are you defining "superfluous", Porter?
Extra, when compared to the common pronunciation.
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Offline Jonathon

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« Reply #29 on: December 17, 2008, 08:33:20 AM »
I don't think a syllable or sound is superfluous just because it could be dropped but isn't. And anyway, just because you omit sounds sometimes in some words doesn't mean you need to omit them all the time in all possible words.
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Offline Porter

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« Reply #30 on: December 17, 2008, 08:48:32 AM »
First of all, it's not that it could be dropped -- it's that it so commonly is dropped that dropping has become the standard, so much so that the syllable isn't dropped by anybody anymore, but instead is added by the minority.  Like you.

Secondly, let me refer you to the smiley that was part of that post (:P), which was intended to convey that I wasn't making a serious claim, but just teasing you.  
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Offline Jonathon

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« Reply #31 on: December 17, 2008, 08:52:19 AM »
So you're saying I shouldn't be so literal? :P  
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Offline Porter

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« Reply #32 on: December 17, 2008, 09:59:53 AM »
We may have finally maxed out.  :D
« Last Edit: December 17, 2008, 10:00:25 AM by Porter »
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Offline rivka

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« Reply #33 on: December 17, 2008, 12:30:07 PM »
Quote
First of all, it's not that it could be dropped -- it's that it so commonly is dropped that dropping has become the standard, so much so that the syllable isn't dropped by anybody anymore, but instead is added by the minority.
Are you claiming that is the case with poinsettia? Because not only do I think you are wrong (at least, outside of Utah), all the dictionaries I checked had the correct ;) pronunciation listed first.
« Last Edit: December 17, 2008, 12:30:18 PM by rivka »
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Offline The Genuine

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« Reply #34 on: December 17, 2008, 01:52:19 PM »



A holiday pole.
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Offline Porter

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« Reply #35 on: December 17, 2008, 03:46:43 PM »
Quote
Quote
First of all, it's not that it could be dropped -- it's that it so commonly is dropped that dropping has become the standard, so much so that the syllable isn't dropped by anybody anymore, but instead is added by the minority.
Are you claiming that is the case with poinsettia? Because not only do I think you are wrong (at least, outside of Utah), all the dictionaries I checked had the correct ;) pronunciation listed first.
Yes, I was jokingly claiming that.

Also, I am not from Utah, and have only spent about a third of my life there.  

I do not recall ever hearing that word pronounced with 4 syllables.
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Offline rivka

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« Reply #36 on: December 17, 2008, 04:38:21 PM »
Quote
Also, I am not from Utah, and have only spent about a third of my life there. 
I know. :)

Quote
I do not recall ever hearing that word pronounced with 4 syllables.
Ignorance is endemic. What else is new? ;)
 
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Offline Tante Shvester

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« Reply #37 on: December 17, 2008, 08:40:05 PM »
Quote
We seem to have the same accent.
My condolences.
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Offline Neutros the Radioactive Dragon

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« Reply #38 on: December 18, 2008, 09:01:03 AM »
Indeed.
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Offline dkw

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« Reply #39 on: December 23, 2008, 03:47:23 PM »
I am trying to figure out how one would pronounce "comfortable" with three syllables.

I am failing.

Oh, wait . . . comf-ter-ble?
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Offline Nighthawk

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« Reply #40 on: December 23, 2008, 04:47:49 PM »
I pronounce it "comf-ta-ble".
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Offline Jonathon

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« Reply #41 on: December 23, 2008, 08:23:05 PM »
Quote
I am trying to figure out how one would pronounce "comfortable" with three syllables.

I am failing.

Oh, wait . . . comf-ter-ble?
Yup.
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Offline pooka

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« Reply #42 on: December 23, 2008, 08:55:15 PM »
My younger sister says poinsettia with the "ia" ending, but was not sure that was how it was spelled.  She's pretty sure our mom says it without the i.  But she felt that in some way the "poi" dictated the "ia" which I don't understand at all.  Maybe it was a mnemonic she devised when she was very young.  She is also from Virginia, but spent 4-6th grades in Utah, I think.  I did not live in Utah until I was 17.  Mostly, I think it is not a reliable accent marker because it is a seasonal word for most people.
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Offline rivka

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« Reply #43 on: December 23, 2008, 09:22:57 PM »
Quote
Quote
I am trying to figure out how one would pronounce "comfortable" with three syllables.

I am failing.

Oh, wait . . . comf-ter-ble?
Yup.
Indeed.
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Offline Neutros the Radioactive Dragon

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« Reply #44 on: December 24, 2008, 10:53:30 AM »
In the words of Charlie Brown"

THAT'S IT!!!!!
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