OK people, settle an argument for me.

A while back it was claimed that somehow "fire" is, by definition, a one-syllable word. Without rehashing that particular fight, how does everyone feel about the word "oil"? Does anyone say "OY-yull"? Or how about "spoil"? Would making it past tense increase the possibility of an extra syllable as in "SPOY-yulled"? To me, born and raised in New England, these are both one-syllable words but God knows I've been wrong before.

Obviously this is playing havoc with the stress patterns of some of our limericks. Rather than tell my people "OK you knuckleheads, do it my way!" (As a child, Moe was always my favorite Stooge.) I would much rather open this up to a reasonable debate here on Wordcraft so that in the end, you all can tell my people, "OK you knuckleheads, do it Chris's way."

That is, of course, assuming I'm correct. Am I?

oil
spoil
oiled
spoiled

all one syllable Chris. They are to me anyway.

Oil and spoil, as well as spoiled, are for me 1.5 syllables at most. But seriously, they're monosyllabic. Now I gotta question: is pie single or double syllabled?

You know, CJ, I would have said 2 syllables before posting here. However, our 'fire' discussion, and then our 'world' discussion, convinces me that it is one syllable.

However, as I was checking OEDILF about another question, I found this limerick by CJ:

"Aged" with one syllable, please,
Is a term that is meant to appease.
It's a tribute, I trust,
Meaning "strong" or "robust."
(Assuming you're some kind of cheese!)

"Aged" has 1 syllable? I say "ag-ed." If it does have 2, then my Washington Post submission for "antediluvian" is off, as I used "aged" in it, with 2 syllables.

"Aged" can be pronounced with one or two syllables, depending on the part of speech being used.

We would say "I aged ten years waiting for the results." and it would be pronounced age'd (one syllable). However, if I were to refer to "My venerable and aged grandfather" it would be pronounced age-ed and have two syllable.

Bugs Bunny pronounces such words with two syllable, "...OK Mac - where's the fy-er..."
I don't know what kind of American accent he has.

In UK English fire (and oil, and oiled, and spoiled) are all monosyllabic too.

I don't know what kind of American accent he has.

He's a Brooklyn Bunny ...

Thanks, arnie, for that "aged" advice as I was about to change my entire "antediluvian" limerick. We'll see what the workshoppers say, now.

I find pronunciations sooo interesting. I heard a physician from England speak today. He was showing powerpoints with "figures" and pronounced them "figgers." It took me awhile to understand what he meant!

Coming from a more musical background, I tend to sing or recite depending on what I know the meter of the phrase should be. If the phrase containing oil requires 2 syllables, I would oblige. If a single syllable is all that is needed, it would be quick and dirty (as oil often is).

Maybe I'm more flexible than I should be?

Maybe I'm more flexible than I should be?

I don't think you are more flexible that you should be. I think you are probably right. In limericks and double dactyls we should think of the pronunciations that way.

I heard another today that I don't much like: "off-ten," instead of "off-en."