I have seen this word, "debacle," all over popular media lately. First, Jim used it on Martha's Apprentice. Then I used it (flagrant copyright violation) the next day. I have since read it on at least THREE blogs and in the Arkansas Times. And somewhere else that I'm forgetting. What is so popular about this word? Ever notice how you hear a word once, and then it's like an everyday occurence??
This is one of many words that I was reading before I ever heard it pronounced. There have been lots of those over the years, because I was a nerdy kid who read my way through life. Well, not entirely, but you get the gist. When I think of more of these words, I'll post them. I pronounced "debacle" incorrectly in my head for a long time. I emphasized the first syllable rather than the second. Funny how you one day realize how things are supposed to sound.
This has been a long entry about words. I like words, I like etymology, and for some reaon I have a delusion that my faithful readers give a damn!
2 comments:
So, dear person (who splatters the ages of your loving family on the internet), how should one pronounce 'debacle'? Is there more than one way?
I am bad at typing out phonetics. Suffice it to say that the second syllable is emphasized. Sounds like "bok." Make a chicken noise!
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