This contest is closed!

2010-10-27 [Chimes]: If I could 'like' this comment, I would.

2010-10-28 [Nioniel]: Hahaha. <3

2010-10-29 [pegasus1000]: Starts watching... The flow is off. 6 - 7- 5... Likes it too anyway.

2010-10-30 [*Phoenix*]: No. Nioniel's comment isn't off.... It's 5-7-5.

2010-10-30 [pegasus1000]: great (1) contest (2) idea (3) I still like it anyway.

2010-10-30 [windowframe]: Pegasus is right, 'idea' is three syllables.

2010-10-31 [Nioniel]: I guess I did not
Count the syllables right. Damn.
Is this one better?

:P

2010-10-31 [pegasus1000]: perfect!

2010-10-31 [Flisky]: It is difficult,
To write good hiakus without
Mistakes abounding.

2010-10-31 [*Phoenix*]: I still think idea is only two syllables...

2010-10-31 [Chimes]: Phoenix, it's definitely 3.

2010-10-31 [Flisky]: The 'ea' could be classified as a diphthong. (I love that word. ^_^ ) In that case, it would actually be one syllable with two vowel sounds.

2010-11-01 [windowframe]: It's debatable whether it's a diphthong (if you love it so much, spell it correctly? :P) You can't just call any two vowels you see next to each other a diphthong. (for those not up on diphthong-osity: If the vowels make one syllable, then it's a diphthong, if they don't, then no it's not. So the oi in boisterous is a diphthong, but the oi in coincidence is definitely not). I always though that the 'ea' diphthong is the sound you get in 'mean', and I've never heard anyone pronounce 'idea' like that :P . But on second thoughts, maybe it is the vowel sound from 'hear', which I would probably count as one syllable, and is a lot closer to the 'ea' in 'idea'. If someone had written 'I, dear', we'd count that as 2 syllables, right? I guess it depends how much stress your accent puts on that final vowel sound as to whether you count it as 2 or 3. My accent tends to stress it, sounds it sounds like three syllables to me, but with softer accents I call well imagine it sounding like two. 

2010-11-01 [windowframe]: Addition: I checked some lists of English Diphthongs. They all list 8, but they seem to vary as to which 8. :P Some have something resembling 'idea' (one had 'near', I pronounce that slightly softer than I do 'idea', but it's the closest I've found to 'idea', and some list it as the 'ea' in 'bean', 'mean', lean', etc. which, if I'm perfectly honest, does sound like a single vowel sound to me <_<)

2010-11-01 [windowframe]: Further addition: it may be to do with whether you conceptualise the 'e' in 'ea' as belonging to the 'd' before it, or to the 'a' after it. In the former case it's not a diphthong, in the latter, it is. Omfg *shuts up now* Language, it are so interesting. ._.

2010-11-01 [Flisky]: (Oops. That's what I get for typing without thinking.) I really don't hear a double vowel sound in bean, mean, or lean...It all sounds like 'ee' to me...

2010-11-01 [windowframe]: http://elftown.eu/stuff/meannearidea.mp3

2010-11-01 [pegasus1000]: Wow Silvie you put a lot more work into that then I thought you would. Major props. I just went to http://dictionary.com and found the common form. i-de-a. That was the only form given, so (to me) that means there isn’t any other way to space the syllables.

In writing one should not expect another to say a common word in an uncommon way. If you truly say the word incorrectly, that is one reason that would make sense. Or if you just miscounted (like I do most often when writing haiku).

2010-11-09 [*Phoenix*]: I've always had problems with saying things wrong so I thought it was two. I've also heard that people from Michigan have their own accent so who knows really.......

2010-11-09 [Flisky]: *makes a face* Are you dissing Michigan accents?

2010-11-13 [*Phoenix*]: No, I live in Michigan; therefore I probably have the "accent."