Does Central Jersey count as cow country? I have three syllables in circling as well

Then again, I also have two and a half syllables for "intermittent" (if I *had* to try and describe how I say that, it would be "inr-mih'n'"...basically, no hard T sound, the last syllable is pretty much dropped, and the traditional first two are just a big slur. Ah, Jersey.)

Rob

Well I can certainly see how "circling" could have either two or three syllables, and I know I've said it both ways myself. Personally I tend to do it naturally with three as well and only say it with two if I'm trying to sound fancy or pretentious.

For me a classic example is "airplane". Two syllables apparently but I was about 16 before I knew it wasn't supposed to be pronounced with a long "o" or short "a" sound between the r and the p. I always said it - well still do for that matter - either "Air rah plane" or "Air o plane". I still think it sounds too clipped if you go straight from air to plane.

Of course in both the "circling" and "airplane" examples all we're really doing is adding an extra vowel where none technically exists so I suppose your method makes sense.

Fascinating post

Kevin

i read two but when i say it i say three so confusing ...................

Mark