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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Halivar" data-source="post: 3613211" data-attributes="member: 9327">From Dictionary.com:"Since /-kliər/, the common pronunciation of ‑cle·ar, might also be represented, broadly, as /-kləyər/, the /-kyələr/ pronunciation can be seen as coming from a process of metathesis, in which the /l/ and the /y/ change places. The resulting pronunciation is reinforced by analogy with such words as molecular, particular, and muscular, and although it occurs with some frequency among highly educated speakers, including scientists, professors, and government officials, it is disapproved of by many."I actually grew up with the /NOO-kyələr/ pronunciation (on army bases, no less), and didn't lose it until I moved to the south-east as an adult. I also seem to remember it being presented as a valid alternative pronunciation in one of my college dictionaries (I think it was American Heritage, but I could be wrong).</blockquote>