The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #97149   Message #1914313
Posted By: Bee-dubya-ell
19-Dec-06 - 09:52 PM
Thread Name: BS: Closed threads & deleted posts (936)
Subject: RE: BS: Closed threads & deleted posts (936)
From the online Merriam Webster Dictionary:

Dissimilation may occur when a word contains two identical or closely related sounds, resulting in the change or loss of one of them. This happens regularly in February, which is more often pronounced \'fe-b(y)&-"wer-e\ than \'fe-br&-"wer-e\, though all of these variants are in frequent use and widely accepted. The \y\ heard from many speakers is not an intrusion but rather a common pronunciation of the vowel u after a consonant, as in January and annual.