“Things don’t have to change the world to be important.” Steve Jobs
It doesn’t take an investigative mind to prove that change happens regularly before our very eyes and ears. Some changes are significant but many are trivial. I suppose my mind today is on the latter, but I really want to share with you some observations. I’m curious whether you have observed the same changes.
Here are some questions for you:
1. Have you noticed that many celebrities when introduced on TV programs now walk onto the stage applauding, apparently, for themselves? Surely that is a fairly recent habit.
2. What about the experts interviewed on news or talk shows who when asked their opinion begin their response with “so” and then proceed? So, when did this trend begin and does anyone think it adds to the information provided?
Words are inanimate so they do not have the power to change, but we at times change their pronunciation for no obvious reason. The first time I noticed this was during the Vietnam War. Out of the blue, that country was pronounced differently for a while.
Let me make clear that I am not talking about the mispronunciation of words. I have the utmost empathy in such circumstances since it has never been a personal strong suit. I don’t know if teachers still have students read aloud in class, but back (way back) in my day it was expected. Like it was yesterday, I recall my humiliation standing in front of the class and reading in Ms. Miller’s fourth grade. Suddenly I came to a big word that I had not encountered before but I forged ahead and read, “She was deter-mind-ed to succeed.”
3. Have you noticed the different pronunciation of any of these words over time? Is there a big authority somewhere who arbitrarily one day simply proclaims, “We will henceforth pronounce __________ differently!”?
|
WORD |
ORIGINAL |
CHANGE |
|
Vietnam |
vee-et-nahm | vee-et-nam |
|
harassment |
huh-ras-ment | har-uhs-ment |
|
divisive |
dih-vagy-siv | di-vis-iv |
|
Appalachia |
ap-uh-ley-chee-uh | ap-uh-lach-ee-uh |
|
Chili |
Chil-lee | Chil-lay |
Please share some of your own observations with us.
Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world.
For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.
Margaret Mead
Part 3 of 4
Photo by Pixabay
Crooked Creek by Sue Mattingly 
Although I have noticed Various pronunciations, I particularly notice different ways to use words. Two examples that come to mind are “growing my business,” and “gone missing.” I am sure that I will be awakening in the middle of the night with further examples.
Also enjoy your viewpoints.
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Yes, the “gone missing” phrase always makes it sound as though the person did it on purpose!
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Yes, so true!
Sent from my iPad
>
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Though my comments aren’t about this particular blog post, I felt it was important to say how much I have enjoyed your blog, the ever changing subjects, your engaging musings, lovely doses of humor and personal candor. I was so far behind on reading your blog – today was catchup Sunday!
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Thanks so much for the encouragement Bill!
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Love reading your blog, as always! You are a professional! Your writing takes me back in time and jogs my memory! Since you confessed to reading out loud in class, and courageously mispronounced the word determined, I too, remember mispronouncing, the word po-li-tics!
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Thanks for sharing your read aloud experience. I suppose that misery loves company because you made me feel so much better. So glad to hear that you are enjoying Crooked Creek.
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