Original Oil Painting by: Grandfather’s wife
Grandfather says he is blessed with a good memory and enough self-assurance that it’s not a curse; little things from long ago come to mind.
When he was six years old, Grandfather learned to read by the phonic method: “sound it out.”
Well, there is an island in the Detroit River with the French name Belle Isle. Grandfather read it out loud as “belly izzle.”
Teacher praised him for phonic accuracy and Grandfather learned that phonics doesn’t always work.
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About the Author: RD Blakeslee is an octogenarian in West Virginia who built his net worth by only investing in that which can be enjoyed during acquisition and throughout life, as opposed to papers in a drawer, like stocks and bonds. You can read more about him here.
Photos: Courtesy of the Blakeslee Family
Now, Grandfather should know better, but he doesn’t He enjoys making phonetic jokes.
For example he will go into a fancy restaurant and order dinner with Pinot nor wine, which he pronounces “pine knot nor.”
To the baffled waitress, Grandfather’s wife says “He thinks he’s funny. He means ‘pee no no wah.'”
I taught vocational school for a few years (and yes, I’m recovering well, thanks), and gave the kids a test once on tool recognition. There was a picture of a standard Craftsman socket ratchet with a line for them to fill out what it was…..one kid must have learned the phonic method as well….because he put: “RatSh*t”……and when I was done laughing, I gave him credit for a unique answer.
Andy, I have to confess some real boo-boos, “language-wise”. Some years ago I was discussing sociopolitics with a fellow patent examiner and spoke a word I had only read, never heard (As Gee says below maybe it’s only those darn French)/
Noblesse oblige: No bless ay ob lig ay .
Hey! It just struck me, That’s French, too.
My wife was born in Holland and speaks fluent French. While I’m railing at the politics on TV, she is railing at mispronunciations of French words. I explained the English word “anglicize” to her, but she wasn’t impressed …
That’s too funny, Dave.
But maybe the problem wasn’t the phonics. Maybe it was those darn French.
I’m still trying to figure out why everybody mispronounces the next lowest officer after a general when it is spelled C-O-L-O-N-E-L. “Co-lon-el.”
Why does everyone call them “kernals”?
Tuscon Arizona is another one! Everybody says “tooson” but that’s not how it’s spelled.
It’s actually spelled “Tucson” …
But point taken, Sam.
*Chuckle* Tucson?
Take comfort Sam!
We both know your stuff is fun nee er than mine …
lol
Try some Cajun names. Hebert is A Bear. Delahoussaye is day la hoo say. lol
I love your word games Mr. Dave.
Thanks, Bill.
RD Blakeslee