Pooberty

[nq:1]I just heard Scott Simon (obTWIAVBP: American radio host) say "puberty" as POOberty. I and that calm fellow at ... PEWberty pronunciation common and I've never noticed it before, or is this Scott Simon going off into his own world?[/nq]
I say PEWberty and this is the way I am used to hearing it.

BTW, the guy (well one of them. I think his name is Ian) from "Globe Trekker" on PBS

[nq:1]I just heard Scott Simon (obTWIAVBP: American radio host) say "puberty" as POOberty. I and that calm fellow at ... PEWberty pronunciation common and I've never noticed it before, or is this Scott Simon going off into his own world?[/nq]
/'***/ is the usual pronunciation by far.
I suppose /'***/ may gain currency in the future, since that is the general trend in AmE as compared to BrE

Sara Lorimer wrote on 28 Aug 2004:
[nq:1]I just heard Scott Simon (obTWIAVBP: American radio host) say "puberty" as POOberty. I and that calm fellow at ... PEWberty pronunciation common and I've never noticed it before, or is this Scott Simon going off into his own world?[/nq]
He's in outer space with "pooberty". Bertie is a character in Thomas the Tank Engine stories.
I've always had

[nq:2]I just heard Scott Simon (obTWIAVBP: American radio host) say ... is this Scott Simon going off into his own world?[/nq]
[nq:1]/'***/ is the usual pronunciation by far.[/nq]
As M-W's Collegiate will tell, literally, anyone without having to resort to funny-looking, obscure, unhelpful symbols.

[nq:1]I just heard Scott Simon (obTWIAVBP: American radio host) say "puberty" as POOberty. I and that calm fellow at ... PEWberty pronunciation common and I've never noticed it before, or is this Scott Simon going off into his own world?[/nq]
Not off in outer space, but in a decided minority. I haven't noticed any regionalism or ethnic background to it either. I do wonder if there isn't just a

[nq:1]As M-W's Collegiate will tell, literally, anyone without having to resort to funny-looking, obscure, unhelpful symbols.[/nq]
I use the IPA for the same reason.

Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.

[nq:1]Not off in outer space, but in a decided minority. I haven't noticed any regionalism or ethnic background to it either. I do wonder if there isn't just a hint of discomfort with discussing *** ...[/nq]
That may be. In some cases, the person may simply have never said the word aloud before. I met a woman once who pronounced "*****" as /'*****/; she had never said it aloud or heard it pron

[nq:2]I just heard Scott Simon (obTWIAVBP: American radio host) say ... is this Scott Simon going off into his own world?[/nq]
[nq:1]Not off in outer space, but in a decided minority. I haven't noticed any regionalism or ethnic background to it ... form a firm conclusion. (I would guess that this could apply to high school biology teachers as well.) Jon Miller[/nq]
Johnny Carson (the Tonig

Jon Miller filted:
[nq:2]I just heard Scott Simon (obTWIAVBP: American radio host) say ... is this Scott Simon going off into his own world?[/nq]
[nq:1]Not off in outer space, but in a decided minority. I haven't noticed any regionalism or ethnic background to it ... and not form a firm conclusion. (I would guess that this could apply to high school biology teachers as well.)[/nq]
Harr

[nq:1]Johnny Carson (the Tonight Show) says pooberty. Jarred me a bit the first time I heard it as I use ... Nebraska. His background (small Midwest towns) may have something to do with the pronunciation, to carry through with your theory.[/nq]
Is Nebraska the Midwest? I know someone from Omaha and he has sort of a 'cowboy' accent, not entirely unlike the recorded speech of Sparky Cunningham.