Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Would you like a cherry core dial?

When I was a child, I had a slight speech impediment. Okay, so it was less "impediment" and more "chronic pronouncing words wrong". Even now, when I have (mostly) outgrown this problem, my parents (*ahem* Dad) still like to bring it up from time to time for a good chuckle.

I think it should have been obvious when I was first grasping language that I was going to have a few issues. I would always bait my hook with verms when fishing. With Dad thinking this was hilarious, I went unchecked for some time. Until my older sister solved the issue.
"They are worms, you dumbie."
I cried. I was seven. What do you expect?

The cool thing to have in elementary school was a wrist watch. I finally begged my mom for one of my own and she took me to Wal-Mart to get a cheap watch that I could lose or break and not have to worry about. At the time, Wally World carried a brand called Panama Jack. I, with my impediment, proudly announced to my mother "I would like this Puh-nom-ah Jack watch."

My mother laughed. I continued to call it Puh-nom-ah until she finally set me straight. After I had told my friends at school that I had a super cool Puh-nom-ah Jack watch.

Then, there was Mother's Day. I was so proud when my Dad handed me ten dollars and let me run wild in the store to get my mom's gift. After searching the store high and low, I found a goofy necklace set and a box of cherry cordials. At home, when mom opened her gift, I loudly asked her "Do you like cherry core dials?" Again with the laughter. Again with the letting me go with it for a few months before telling me I'm wrong.

Even now, I still struggle sometimes ("siren" in particular likes to give me a hard time). But, I've learned from my parents' lessons. If you aren't sure how to pronounce a word, look it up in the thesaurus.

4 comments:

  1. I didn't have a speech problem but I have a huge issue with the word rural and the name Rory. i cannot say them! Love your blog by the way!!

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  2. My sister called crayons "crowns" and the remote control a "motkin retrol"... I also have a problem with the word "rural", and anything that has "r"s really close together, and desks. tasks. masks.

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  3. I used to be the same way! I bet it sounded cute though!

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  4. Oh boy.. Let's see, mine are numerous.

    "Am-bu-LANCE"
    "wishing whale"
    Dressage was "dress-ige"
    Chelation (pronounced key-lay-shun" "chel-a-shen"

    I had a very southern accent as a kid (I'm told I still do, but I refuse to believe it) and my northerner mom thought it was hilarious.

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