Quote:
Originally Posted by Taylor
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' Squirrel ' is correct.....(sorry for the delay...away snowmobiling for the weekend !)
And you'll all curse me...but this was somewhat a trick question !!!
(You can debate this point all day long if you like, Chong.
The English language is an enigma to those who learn it as a 2nd language, I understand !!)
But the fact remains that the word 'squirrel' can actually have
two pronunciations, with either one
or two syllables !!
(Leaving out the important vowel-stressing "schwas" my Dell keyboard can't reproduce accurately,) the two pronunciation symbols for the word 'squirrel' in the 1985 Second College Edition of the American Heritage Dictionary are
skwur and the two-syllable
skwur el.
Check the dictionary on your shelf if you'd like !
Try this...
Put a flattened hand no more than 1/2 " under your chin, and say the word 'squirrel' the way you've said it all your life.
I'd bet that 85-90% of the people on this thread have their chin hit their hand
only
once.
(P.S....I'm a "boomer", and I, and almost everyone I've ever run in to in this region say 'squirrel' in one syllable.)