An "Important" Linguistic Question

While I was doing the Chapel Probation podcast, I started to notice how people pronounced words in many different ways. I used to teach English and taught a class that covered basic linguistics. Most of my guests were Millenials, and I heard several pronounce the word, “Important” with a “d” sound. Im-por-dant. I’ve heard this word uttered on public radio a lot lately, pronounced in all the ways in the above poll.

I’m a middle Gen X, and I pronounce it "Im-por-tent.” Maybe “im-por-tint.” That last syllable is ambiguous.

So what say you all?

Thanks to Axis Mundi, Straight White American Jesus, and Brad Onishi, I have around 100 new followers, so let’s get nerdy. There is no judgment here. Just a linguistic musing I’ve been thinking about.