Observations July 8, 2014 - Epenthesis

[SportsFan68]

The use of epenthesis in spoken English makes me crazy, although Merriam-Webster insists that it's no offense at all to insert an extra syllable to break up an awkward cluster of consonants; still, hearing a word like athalete makes me cringe, and it always will.

[Bob78164]

The use of epenthesis in spoken English makes me crazy, although Merriam-Webster insists that it's no offense at all to insert an extra syllable to break up an awkward cluster of consonants; still, hearing a word like athalete makes me cringe, and it always will.

What about "nucular"? --Bob

[SportsFan68]

The use of epenthesis in spoken English makes me crazy, although Merriam-Webster insists that it's no offense at all to insert an extra syllable to break up an awkward cluster of consonants; still, hearing a word like athalete makes me cringe, and it always will.

What about "nucular"? --Bob

You probably looked this up and found that particular example, but it's not the epenthesis in that word that makes me crazy.

[Bob78164]

The use of epenthesis in spoken English makes me crazy, although Merriam-Webster insists that it's no offense at all to insert an extra syllable to break up an awkward cluster of consonants; still, hearing a word like athalete makes me cringe, and it always will.

What about "nucular"? --Bob

You probably looked this up and found that particular example, but it's not the epenthesis in that word that makes me crazy.

No need for me to look it up. I'm a political junkie with clear memories of the Ford Administration. --Bob

[Estonut]

The use of epenthesis in spoken English makes me crazy, although Merriam-Webster insists that it's no offense at all to insert an extra syllable to break up an awkward cluster of consonants; still, hearing a word like athalete makes me cringe, and it always will.

What about "nucular"?

You probably looked this up and found that particular example, but it's not the epenthesis in that word that makes me crazy.

It's a metathesis, not an epethesis.

[Estonut]

What about "nucular"?

You probably looked this up and found that particular example, but it's not the epenthesis in that word that makes me crazy.

No need for me to look it up. I'm a political junkie with clear memories of the Ford Administration.

And how are your memories of Carter, Mondale and Clinton? They all botched it much more recently.

[SportsFan68]

One site (English Words: History and Structure) cites nucular as an epenthesis not yet achieving full respectability despite sightings (OK, hearings, just wanted to get sight in there) amongst lawyers, professors, Congressional representatives, two United States Presidents, at least one U.S. Vice President, one Colorado governor (John Vanderhoof), and less frequently amongst British and Canadian speakers.

There are lots of epenthesis constructions which have achieved full respectability, such as nimble, assumption, redemption, and orientate. It's been going on since 1543 (that we know of) and will no doubt continue, but my objection to athalete remains. What makes me cringe about it is that living language experts insist that speakers determine what acceptable English usage is, and pretty soon we get dreadful words like rif, chillax, and selfie entering the dictionary. I do not want athalete entering the dictionary.

[SportsFan68]

What about "nucular"?

You probably looked this up and found that particular example, but it's not the epenthesis in that word that makes me crazy.

It's a metathesis, not an epethesis.

It's definitely not an epethesis . . .

[Estonut]

It's a metathesis, not an epethesis.

It's definitely not an epethesis . . .

I should have copied and pasted from the subject. I was so concerned about getting the end of the word typed correctly that I botched the start of it.