My first indication that I was in foreign land was when I registered my children for school this past fall. The secretary intoduced herself as, "Mahsha". "Mahsha" I tried to repeat, not knowing if this was some mix of Madge and Marcia or Magda, better yet, how would I even spell that?? Her last name was Polish, so I assumed that was the origin of her first name too. Come to find out her name is Marcia, just plain Marcia with a New England twist. Of course! I didn't think that moving just two states away would require me to try to understand a new language, forget about speaking it, I think they can understand me just fine. Or can they? My oldest child is in third grade. The teacher was explaining words with the -AH- sound, as in lost, not, awesome...you get it...she asked the class what sound the word b-e-c-a-u-s-e makes. My son raised his hand and pronounced it like this --bee-kuhz-- Wrongo! The girl next to him raises her hand and pronounces it this way --bee-kawwwz-- Bingo! Huh? Well, then they all went to get a drink from the bubbler and then they played tag and had to run to goo or else they were out! If you don't believe me, ask my friend Lisa to tell you why she failed so many spelling tests in this great state! My first grader is having a bit of trouble in this area as well. One student in her class spells park this way p-a-k and why shouldn't she?? That is exactly how it is pronounced! We are trying to invent a new version of Hooked on Phonics for my daughter so she won't be tricked on this weeks spelling words caught and bar.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Rhode Island-ish
My first indication that I was in foreign land was when I registered my children for school this past fall. The secretary intoduced herself as, "Mahsha". "Mahsha" I tried to repeat, not knowing if this was some mix of Madge and Marcia or Magda, better yet, how would I even spell that?? Her last name was Polish, so I assumed that was the origin of her first name too. Come to find out her name is Marcia, just plain Marcia with a New England twist. Of course! I didn't think that moving just two states away would require me to try to understand a new language, forget about speaking it, I think they can understand me just fine. Or can they? My oldest child is in third grade. The teacher was explaining words with the -AH- sound, as in lost, not, awesome...you get it...she asked the class what sound the word b-e-c-a-u-s-e makes. My son raised his hand and pronounced it like this --bee-kuhz-- Wrongo! The girl next to him raises her hand and pronounces it this way --bee-kawwwz-- Bingo! Huh? Well, then they all went to get a drink from the bubbler and then they played tag and had to run to goo or else they were out! If you don't believe me, ask my friend Lisa to tell you why she failed so many spelling tests in this great state! My first grader is having a bit of trouble in this area as well. One student in her class spells park this way p-a-k and why shouldn't she?? That is exactly how it is pronounced! We are trying to invent a new version of Hooked on Phonics for my daughter so she won't be tricked on this weeks spelling words caught and bar.
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12 comments:
That's hilarious, Jenni. Fred informed me that I'm starting to say certain things like an East Coast dweller. Like "sure." Instead of "shur" I apparently say "shore."
Did you take that quiz that Daniel posted about?
I did take that quiz and it marked me as from Minnesota, huh? That's good that you say shore, I am not shore which accent is the best to have. My parents, from the west raised me, but living in NJ and GA I think cancelled all of the accents out for me.
my weren't we a prolific blogger today!
jenni, remember when you told me you caught samuel with a ny accent? i about died (even though i had been suspecting it for some time)! i had always said that if any of my kids started with a ny accent, we were outta there-- maybe i shouldn't have said that! but, i do have to admit that ny accents are way better than boston or ri!
I love the story about you meeting that potential landlord and Robert introducing himself as Robert and the guy saying, "Nice to meet you, Bab." I get lots of laughs when I tell that one.
Yes, Bab is considering changing his name.
Poor Bab and poor first grader. What is goo?
I can so relate---moving to NJ from the midwest while in High School. It was the Twin Tow-ahs that tow-ahed over the City. Shoenah-Nanah!!!! When I would call dad at his office in NYC while at college in SLC, his secretary always told him his dawteh was calling.....Oh Soph....Spelling is hard enough.... Jowsh better go eat some sawsage from the Bronx to even out the accent!!!!Meanwhile, careful pahking yus van.
Matthew is cracking me up, he comes home from school saying "he needs to clean his hands" and "I've come back by mommy." Crazy what they pick up!
goo = base
makes a lot of sense, right?
Jenni,
It is not so bad that the test says your from "Minnesota". Hey, just so you know - I am still a horrible speller - I am going to blame it on those Rhode Islanders.
well im a little behind on the blog thing but im getting into it. i have a lot of spare time at work to get into it.
As for Rhode Island. it is a different place. I serve part of my mission out there. I used to help a lady at an animal shelter. She named her daughter Mona. And as people from rhode island have a tendency to do, she put an er at the end of any word that ended with an a. pizzer, soder. She honestly did call her daughter Moner. I tried not to laugh when first heard it, but i got used to it. This is where my accent on my mission got the thickest. I hope you enjoy Rhode Island! Is Robert working in the Smithfield Fidelity office?
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