Well, we do say LABoratory here, though

Does anyone other than me still say EXquisite (rather than exQUISite), HOSpitable, PREparatory, etc? Americans, at least, are seemingly incapable of accenting the first syllable of any multisyllabic word. I cringe whenever I hear forMIDable or apPLICable.

Or preFERably.

This American here says EXquisite, hosPITable, prePARatory, FORmidable, and APplicable. I believe all five pronunciations are correct.

That's the way I pronouce them, although I have to admit to never having thought about them before. My pet hate is 'conTROVersy', which I maintain should be 'CONTROversy'.

We are in the middle of a heat wave here in the UK - yes, really. Talking about the weather is a national obsession, so there's lots of that lately. For the sake of my health I must give up on reacting to the irritatingly wrong 'hot temperatures'. Even on the BBC - I ask you. Bring back the lash.