About 20 years ago, an English literature teacher told my class never to make fun of someone who mispronounces a word that they used correctly (contextually) because that means they read the word and taught themselves the meaning. Making fun of them might make them lose that urge to read and discover new words. I think about that often and I am grateful.
#CoSoBookLovers #CoSoBookClub #opencarrybooks
i still don't know how to say some stuff out loud.
like epoch.
is it "epic" or "e-pock"?
@MotherDucker
And it’s so very true.
There are quite a few instances I remember feeling extremely “inadequate” for mispronouncing “asparagus” or “aluminum”.
People who mispronounce words because English is their 2nd or 3rd language are usually pretty smart people. After all they know at least one other language better than they know English.
@MotherDucker I definitely have words like that. Chaos was one....I pronounced it as chay-os when reading for years before realizing that it was the same word that I was hearing as Kaos. I knew what 'both' words meant but didn't realize it was the same word.
@MotherDucker This is great advice.
@MotherDucker My daughter and I have had this discussion, except that we were always in agreement and nothing would have discourage either of us from reading.
@MotherDucker I was home sick from school in 2nd grade, reading /Splinter of the Mind’s Eye/ to my mom to keep me entertained. We came across the word REN•dez•vuss, and Mom was just tickled pink that I sounded it out as well as I did. She told me the correct pronunciation, that it was from French, and had me guess the meaning. Her response was an enthusiastic, “Pretty close!” before telling me the full meaning. (She was a certified elementary level teacher.)
@MotherDucker This is my kiddo a hundred times over. 🦋
that's really beautiful.
learning as a whole way of life.
what i mean is, this attitude of respect and charity can [and should] extend to every aspect of our existence.
@MotherDucker That's me to a "T"
Many people who are quick to correct other people's pronunciation don't actually know how the word is supposed to be pronounced. I've had *teachers* do that...
It's generally better to leave it alone unless it's likely to impede communication, and then it's best to do it in a way that's not arrogant or condescending. Like "Oh, sorry, I didn't get that at first. I've usually heard it pronounced '____'."
@MotherDucker Agreed. Throughout my life I done this. The word I've had the most trouble with is the word, "genre". I read this word so much as a kid that when now as an adult I read something out loud and this word comes I still use the pronunciation from my childhood. And I get a few side eyes.👀
@MotherDucker I love this
A good and wise teacher. Next level empathy there.
@MotherDucker this is very true. I grew up reading the dictionary to find words for my poems. Our house literally had no books. My high school English teacher became my mentor and quietly taught me how to actually say all the words I knew.
@MotherDucker yeah, that was a really nice thing to pass onto students. Great advice!