It’s Vlaining Outside

 

I just looked out my window and saw it was vlaining.  Now, you’re probably thinking, “Stad, it’s pronounced raining.”  I know.  I was just thinking about our daughters when we first brought them home from Russia.

Although they learned English fairly quickly, there were some words they had trouble pronouncing.  “Rain” was “vlain” for a while (there must have been a lot of Vladimirs working at the orphanage).  Another word was “punkuter” for “computer.”  Middle daughter used to say something was “cruge” (huge).  Later, she started using the more common “ginormous”—and still does.

I remember when I was growing up, I had trouble with the number “three.”  I always said “free” instead.  It drove my mother crazy because I could pronounce “throw” correctly.  To this day, I still intentionally mispronounce the word “champagne” like The Continental on SNL—”cham-pag-ne”—as a mnemonic whenever I have to write it (as I did just now).

What words did your kids have trouble with?  And do you have any clever mnemonics you use to help with spelling troublesome words?

And it’s still vlaining . . .

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  1. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    Stad (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    TBA (View Comment):

    GrannyDude (View Comment):

    My grandson is really interested in numbers. He’s four, and not only can count as high as anyone would wish him to (and then some) and write them all down, he can spell them. Including “eight” (?!?).

    Anyway, because we drive around together, I have been made aware of just how many numbers one small boy can spot from a car seat strapped into the back of a Grannymobile. (Lots. And lots. Really numbing numbers of numbers…) He is especially interested in the white rectangular signs that transmit instructions from the Speed Lemon.

    I love the Speed Lemon.

    What even is the Speed Lemon?

    A fast Yugo . . .

    No, “fast Yugo” is not the Speed Lemon, it’s an oxymoron.

    I think “speed lemon” is an oxymoron too . . .

    Since “lemon” is the common example used in early reader alphabet books, it would no surprise me that a child would see the letter “L” and immediately think “lemon.” Or “Llama.”

    • #61
  2. MWD B612 "Dawg" Member
    MWD B612 "Dawg"
    @danok1

    Percival (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):

    I think the “th” sound is difficult for many. I’ve had a number of three year old children tell me they’re “free.” Many of our grandson’s peers, and his younger sister, pronounced his name Arthur as “Arfur” when they were 18 months to about four years old. He was clear early on he wanted the full version, not the shortened “Artie,” or his parents’ initial intention to use his initials “AJ.”

    Even adults. Undergraduate engineering fluid mechanics class, professor recently immigrated from the Netherlands. “Throttling valve” always pronounced “tottling valve.”

    I’ve told this one before.

    My second semester calculus professor was Scottish, and this was his first job in the US. We were going over trigonometric derivatives when he asked, “What is the derivative of cot x?” However, he pronounced “cot x” as “Kotex.” Several of the women in the class either blushed or suppressed laughter. After two or three days, he started using the correct pronunciation. I’ve always wondered who had the guts to tell him . . .

    One of our TAs was from Malaya, and he went on and on about things “equaling deero” and it took a while (for me) to realize what he was actually saying.

    My prof in statics was from India, and he had a very thick accent. A couple of weeks into the class, he started going on about “Newton’s football.” It took us a week to figure out he was saying, “Newton’s First Law.”

    • #62
  3. CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill
    @CarolJoy

    My best friend when growing up, also a Carole but with an “e”, she used to say “axed.”

    This was long before Chicago neighborhoods became integrated. She was as white as white could be.

    Later on, in my teens, I realized that this pronunciation was always drilled out of black people who aspired for a career at any  big city news station.

    I still thought of it as endearing.

    Still do.

     

    • #63
  4. CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill Coolidge
    CarolJoy, Not So Easy To Kill
    @CarolJoy

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    It’s awkward to correct people when they say “prostrate cancer”; I just wince and move on.

    Ever heard a supposedly professional mechanic refer to (at least in the past, may not be a thing any more) the PVC valve on an engine?

    PVC is Poly-Vinyl Chloride, a plastic.

    Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve is PCV.

    Well acronyms in general are enough to make even a skilled mechanic cranky.

    • #64
  5. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    MWD B612 "Dawg" (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    One of our TAs was from Malaya, and he went on and on about things “equaling deero” and it took a while (for me) to realize what he was actually saying.

    My prof in statics was from India, and he has a very thick accent. A couple of weeks into the class, he started going on about “Newton’s football.” It took us a week to figure out he was saying, “Newton’s First Law.”

    This looks like a job for Accent Man!

    (I could have sworn I had him in my image library. Hold on, I know he’s around here somewhere. . .)Ah, yes, the cartoon superhero I came up with while bored in university classes and listening to instructors with thick accents. Completely created from accents, he can parse through any linguistic overlay.

    • #65
  6. Steven Seward Member
    Steven Seward
    @StevenSeward

    JustmeinAZ (View Comment):

    There is the ubiquitous “basketty” for spaghetti. Don’t all kids say that?

    Surprised it’s not been mentioned yet.

    My brothers used to say “pissgetty.”

    • #66
  7. Steven Seward Member
    Steven Seward
    @StevenSeward

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):

    I think the “th” sound is difficult for many. I’ve had a number of three year old children tell me they’re “free.” Many of our grandson’s peers, and his younger sister, pronounced his name Arthur as “Arfur” when they were 18 months to about four years old. He was clear early on he wanted the full version, not the shortened “Artie,” or his parents’ initial intention to use his initials “AJ.”

    Even adults. Undergraduate engineering fluid mechanics class, professor recently immigrated from the Netherlands. “Throttling valve” always pronounced “tottling valve.”

    If I’ve got this right, just about the only two languages in the world that use the “th” sound are English and Arabic.  Hebrew used to use the “th”sound but changed it to an “s” sound more than a hundred years ago.  “Sabbath” (or Shabbath) is now pronounced Shabbos.

    • #67
  8. Steven Seward Member
    Steven Seward
    @StevenSeward

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    I still get confused about how to spell weird–or is it wierd?

    Maybe it’s “wired?”  English is  so confusing.

    • #68
  9. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Steven Seward (View Comment):
    “Sabbath” (or Shabbath) is now pronounced Shabbos.

    In modern Hebrew, the sound is still a “T,” not an “S”–at least with modern Israelis.

    • #69
  10. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    I still get confused about how to spell weird–or is it wierd?

    Maybe it’s “wired?” English is so confusing.

    You’re not helping me here, Steve.

    • #70
  11. Steven Seward Member
    Steven Seward
    @StevenSeward

    Chris Williamson (View Comment):

    In grade school we were sometimes asked to read aloud for the class. I remember mispronouncing “Colonel Washington” while reading from the history book. When I heard it was “Kernel”, I was thoroughly flustered.

    Louie Lebeau pronounces it that way (with an “L”) on Hogan’s Heroes.  A Frenchman.  They don’t know how to pronounce or spell anything!

    • #71
  12. Steven Seward Member
    Steven Seward
    @StevenSeward

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):
    “Sabbath” (or Shabbath) is now pronounced Shabbos.

    In modern Hebrew, the sound is still a “T,” not an “S”–at least with modern Israelis.

    I forgot about  the  pronunciation divide between Ashkenazy Jews and Sephardic Jews.

    • #72
  13. Steven Seward Member
    Steven Seward
    @StevenSeward

    kedavis (View Comment):

    JustmeinAZ (View Comment):

    There is the ubiquitous “basketty” for spaghetti. Don’t all kids say that?

    Surprised it’s not been mentioned yet.

    For my younger brothers and sister it was “pasketti.”

    Oh, and “hangubber,” “hangubber bun,” “hangubber helper”…

    My brother used to say “hockabber.”

    • #73
  14. Flicker Coolidge
    Flicker
    @Flicker

    Full Size Tabby (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    TBA (View Comment):

    GrannyDude (View Comment):

    My grandson is really interested in numbers. He’s four, and not only can count as high as anyone would wish him to (and then some) and write them all down, he can spell them. Including “eight” (?!?).

    Anyway, because we drive around together, I have been made aware of just how many numbers one small boy can spot from a car seat strapped into the back of a Grannymobile. (Lots. And lots. Really numbing numbers of numbers…) He is especially interested in the white rectangular signs that transmit instructions from the Speed Lemon.

    I love the Speed Lemon.

    What even is the Speed Lemon?

    A fast Yugo . . .

    No, “fast Yugo” is not the Speed Lemon, it’s an oxymoron.

    I think “speed lemon” is an oxymoron too . . .

    Since “lemon” is the common example used in early reader alphabet books, it would no surprise me that a child would see the letter “L” and immediately think “lemon.” Or “Llama.”

    Not Lycanthrope anymore?

    • #74
  15. Chris B Member
    Chris B
    @ChrisB

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    I still get confused about how to spell weird–or is it wierd?

    Maybe it’s “wired?” English is so confusing.

    You just have to remember the rule they taught in grade school. Everyone seems to forget the last bit.


    before e, except after c, or when sounding like a, as in neighbor and weigh, unless it is word that is weird.

    • #75
  16. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):
    “Sabbath” (or Shabbath) is now pronounced Shabbos.

    In modern Hebrew, the sound is still a “T,” not an “S”–at least with modern Israelis.

    I forgot about the pronunciation divide between Ashkenazy Jews and Sephardic Jews.

    You’re lucky.  I never knew about it in the first place . . .

    • #76
  17. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Stad (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):
    “Sabbath” (or Shabbath) is now pronounced Shabbos.

    In modern Hebrew, the sound is still a “T,” not an “S”–at least with modern Israelis.

    I forgot about the pronunciation divide between Ashkenazy Jews and Sephardic Jews.

    You’re lucky. I never knew about it in the first place . . .

    Then we should throw in the Mizrahim, too.

    • #77
  18. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):
    “Sabbath” (or Shabbath) is now pronounced Shabbos.

    In modern Hebrew, the sound is still a “T,” not an “S”–at least with modern Israelis.

    I forgot about the pronunciation divide between Ashkenazy Jews and Sephardic Jews.

    You’re lucky. I never knew about it in the first place . . .

    Then we should throw in the Mizrahim, too.

    Ditto . . .

    • #78
  19. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Stad (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):
    “Sabbath” (or Shabbath) is now pronounced Shabbos.

    In modern Hebrew, the sound is still a “T,” not an “S”–at least with modern Israelis.

    I forgot about the pronunciation divide between Ashkenazy Jews and Sephardic Jews.

    You’re lucky. I never knew about it in the first place . . .

    Then we should throw in the Mizrahim, too.

    Ditto . . .

    If by that you mean you never knew about that either, in the first place, meaning you’re referring to/repeating your previous comment not “dittoing” the comment you just replied to, I suggest going with “ibid” which I’ve also started using for that occasion.

    • #79
  20. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):
    “Sabbath” (or Shabbath) is now pronounced Shabbos.

    In modern Hebrew, the sound is still a “T,” not an “S”–at least with modern Israelis.

    I forgot about the pronunciation divide between Ashkenazy Jews and Sephardic Jews.

    You’re lucky. I never knew about it in the first place . . .

    Then we should throw in the Mizrahim, too.

    Ditto . . .

    If by that you mean you never knew about that either, in the first place, meaning you’re referring to/repeating your previous comment not “dittoing” the comment you just replied to, I suggest going with “ibid” which I’ve also started using for that occasion.

    Huh?

    • #80
  21. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Stad (View Comment):
    Huh?

    Don’t ask, man. It might lead to an answer.

    • #81
  22. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Stad (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):
    “Sabbath” (or Shabbath) is now pronounced Shabbos.

    In modern Hebrew, the sound is still a “T,” not an “S”–at least with modern Israelis.

    I forgot about the pronunciation divide between Ashkenazy Jews and Sephardic Jews.

    You’re lucky. I never knew about it in the first place . . .

    Then we should throw in the Mizrahim, too.

    Ditto . . .

    If by that you mean you never knew about that either, in the first place, meaning you’re referring to/repeating your previous comment not “dittoing” the comment you just replied to, I suggest going with “ibid” which I’ve also started using for that occasion.

    Huh?

    Sorry for answering, but…

    It looked to me like by “ditto” you meant “the same answer I gave in my previous comment, #76, ‘You’re lucky.  I never knew about it in the first place . . .'”

    But “ditto” usually means “copy the most recent comment, ‘Then we should throw in the Mizrahim, too.'”

    If that’s what you meant, then fine.  It just didn’t seem that way to me.  And if you were referring back to YOUR previous comment, #76, “You’re lucky.  I never knew about it in the first place . . .” then I would go with “ibid” referring to YOUR previous/most recent comment, not just the one immediately preceding by someone else.

    • #82
  23. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    kedavis (View Comment):
    But “ditto” usually means “copy the most recent comment, ‘Then we should throw in the Mizrahim, too.’”

    Okay, I give!  I meant “ditto” as in, “I didn’t know about Mizrahim either.”

    • #83
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