Sunday, March 26, 2023

TONGUE-TIED…AND TONGUE-TIRED!

 


                                       





 

A couple of weeks ago a Gympie friend and I chatted on the phone; not an unusual event. Having grown up across the street from each other, we’ve been friends for centuries.  We met not long after I’d learnt how to talk.  At which time she was superior to me in the skill of talking. Old friends we are in all aspects, years included.  Towards the end of our lengthy conversation, as we bade each other farewell, she said, “It’s been great listening to you.”  Spontaneously, I burst out laughing.  Whether her comment was impromptu or not, had I talked her ear off?  She joined in with the laughter, and we continued our conversation.  Generously, I even let her get a word or two in!  After all, being older than I am, she’s had a few more years of talking.  I need to catch up!

On an average day, if there is such a thing, I don’t do much talking other than to myself, or when I growl at the TV.  Most of my conversing is with Shama, my furry roomie. In turn, she talks back, loudly and clearly. More often she is the instigator/interrogator. She’s probably telling me to shut up.  I pretend I don’t understand. Not easily fooled, Shama’s wise to me.

Some voices of various television reporters, personalities, etc., do grate.  Frequently I’m annoyed by the mispronunciation of some words.  Perhaps I’m behind the times. Maybe I should expand my mingling…chat with more people. Perhaps I’ll talk less with Shama who, by the way, most of the time, makes more sense than many two-legged critters do. Because of my lack of social intercourse, has the spelling of some words been altered during my absence from society?  For instance, words such as “important” and “exactly” have been affected.  Annoyingly, often the former is pronounced “impordand”, and the latter, “eggsactly”.   

I’m not being “mis-chee-vious”. I’m being “mis-chuh-vuh-s”. When in the mood, my express wish is for an espresso, not an expresso.  Often the “pruh-nuhn-see-ey-shuhn” of “pronunciation” is incorrectly pronounced…e.g. “pruh-noun-see-ey-shuhn “. At times “prenunciation” is tossed into the mix adding to the confusion.  By the way, “et cetera/etcetera” is not “ec-set-er-uh”. The correct pronunciation is, “et-set-er-uh”, etc. Amen! (Pronounced “Ahh-men”!) I guess, that’ll be the next word the “cancel culture” will jump upon…demanding it be altered from “Amen” to “Ahh-women”!

Embarrassed, I admit there are some words over which I stumble.  “Phenomenon” and” phenomenal”, for instance, are two tongue-tripping words.  When and where possible I do my best to dodge those dodgy words.  It’s not a phase I’m going through. The two words faze me, and have done for as long as I can remember. Being a Scorpio, my memory is long. 

Another word giving me constant trouble is “Dave”.  I can never pronounce the word correctly. It always comes out as “David”!  

Foreshore…oops…for sure, I didn’t refuse to put out the refuse. I sed I hadn’t ped. Should I’ve sayed I’d paid?  Why aren’t “gave” and “have” pronounced similarly…or “give” and “hive”?  As I wander about, I wonder why this is so. It’s good to be kind at all times, or at least try our best to be kind.  Why aren’t/aunt “kindle/kindling” pronounced similar to “kind”?  

My mind works in mysterious (mis-tee-ree-us) ways.  It always has. 

Every time I try to say “Bernard Schwartz”, it comes out as “Tony Curtis”.  Folk of my vintage will understand. Younger generations…do a Google check.   As for Vincent D’Onofrio from “Law & Order; Criminal Intent”…my pronunciation of his surname was hopelessly jumbled every time I’d try to say it, so I gave up ages ago!

 

 

La torta pasqualina/Pass-kwah-lean-ah ("Pass" rhymes with mass)/Easter Pie: Wash 370g spinach leaves; put into pot with a little water. Cover; cook over low heat,10mins. Filling: In bowl mix 140g ricotta, 60g Parmigiano Reggiano, 30g Pecorino Romano cheese and 1 egg; add pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.  Drain spinach; squeeze well to remove the water. Add spinach to cheese mixture. Mix well to combine. Line 20cm round cake pan with baking paper. Then line it with one sheet of puff pastry. Fill it with the cheese and spinach mixture. Make 3 small hollows in mixture, evenly spaced. Crack and place 1 raw egg in each hole. Cut a 20 cm circle out of second puff pastry sheet. Place it carefully over top of the mixture. Close the pie, folding down edges of pastry lining to join up with the disk. Bake in 180C oven, 50mins. Serve hot, or at room temp. It can be kept in fridge covered with wrap, or in an airtight container for 3 days. It can be frozen. If preferred, cut it into slices in order to defrost only the portions needed. Defrost in fridge; then reheat in oven or microwave.

Spaghetti aglio e olio/spah-get-tee- ah-lyo-oh-ly-o: Cook 500g spaghetti in boiling salted water. Drain; reserve 1/2c liquid. Heat 3/4c x-virgin olive oil in large, deep pan over med-heat. Add 6 thinly sliced garlic cloves; cook until lightly golden. Add pasta, 1/2 c grated parmesan and cooking liquid; toss 1min or until well combined; season. Serve immediately sprinkled with chopped   parsley, extra parmesan and chilli flakes (if using).

26 comments:

  1. Lovely comic strips of girls' talk and women's talk!
    Your torta pasqualina looks delicious, and tempting!
    Pronunciation of words in any language, not only English, might sometimes annoy us.

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    1. G'day, DUTA. My friend and I chatted again yesterday...and we again laughed about her comment. I'll continue to tease her about it...and we will continue to laugh.

      Take good care up your way. You're in my thoughts. Thanks for coming by. :)

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  2. Recipes are making me hungry. I understand your frustrations with the spoken words TV programs use. I also hate the spelling and grammar mistakes in newspapers, paper and digital. Doesn't someone spell check?

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    1. Hey there, Susan. One would think with the easy availability of spell check it would be now second nature...but, unfortunately, it appears not to be so.

      Some voices annoy the hell out of me, too! Their nasal passages must get very tender and sore because some talk through them!!! :)

      Thanks for coming by....take care.

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  3. Such friends are a treasure.

    Sloppy pronunciation can grate on the nerves. Sometimes, people simply cannot pronounce a particular word correctly. We had a church pastor, very well educated, very well spoken, who simply could not say the word, "wash." It always came out as, "warsh," no matter how he tried to correct it. Everyone knew he tried his best and gave him a pass on that one.

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    1. You are correct re such friends being treasures, messymimi...very valuable they are indeed.

      I do my best to dodge the words I find difficult to pronounce. I can make a fool of myself easily enough as it is!! :)

      Thanks for coming by...take care. :)

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  4. I am guilty of lazy speech, "impordan" etc, it's what I heard growing up and with English not being my parents first language they probably didn't know to correct me. I do try to do better, but like you, I am alone at home a lot of the time, so don't get much practise. My tongue tripper word is Linen, I get stuck on the first 'n' and have to consciously say lin-en, otherwise it's linnn. Another one is "be able to" for some reason it comes out a garbled "beouter" unless I stop and separate the words.

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    1. I think perhaps these days the teachers are more lenient than they were in my day, too. Back in the "good old days" both primary and secondary teachers were more invested in how they taught. I could be wrong, of course. So often, I am.

      Not that I attended them (Mum and Nana couldn't afford to pay for the lessons, not on top of my learning how to play the piano) elocution classes/lessons were also held, separate from our compulsory, regular schooling. Often I wonder if such private sessions are available to children nowadays. Mum and Nana were pretty particular about our speech, and how we spoke. We were always reprimanded if we talked through our nose! lol

      Thanks for coming by, River...take care. :)

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  5. I try not to listen to the television. It is bad for my equanimity.
    Love your friend's freudian slip - and that you both laughed.

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    1. G'day, EC. I do my best not to watch a lot of news bulletins and current affair programmes these days. Not only are the news segments overly-repetitive, we are being drowned with bad new, and a lot of whingeing. It all becomes so depressing. However, I do, and have always liked a good movie, and a good series. Thank goodness for the availability of streaming services. We are allowed access to more choices.

      Thanks for coming by...take care. :)

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  6. Nice to have a good natter to a friend on the phone but at least you have your pussy for company and the TV.
    Words have changed for sure, for me it's annoying as people these days can't speak correctly but one must accept the differences in language as each generation or two do say things differently.
    My pet hate is those that don't pronounce Australia correctly by leaving out the 'L'.

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    1. Hi, Margaret...By choice, I keep to myself. A social animal I am not...once upon a time, maybe, but no more! :)

      As I mentioned in my above response to River, perhaps teachers, too, are more lenient these days. Back when I was attending school....and that is a long time ago...teaching methods were different to what they are today. Our teachers, (and English teachers, in particular, when we were attending high school) were very involved and dedicated to their craft and to their students' correct usage of the English language. It is a different world we live in today.

      I guess I am showing my age...in more ways than one! lol

      Thanks for coming by. Take care. :)

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  7. You have trouble pronouncing Dave? I didn't see that one coming. I prefer to be called Dave and not David though. If anyone asks which I prefer, I often say, "Only my mother calls me David. And then only when she's angry with me." I have more trouble saying the right words than mispronouncing them. My wife is always saying, "Did you mean to say . . . ? Oops. Yes.

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    1. Hi Dave....I've always called you "Dave",...but friends of mine here whom I've known well for many years, I always call "David", even though some others call them "Dave". To me they will always be "David". I guess the main reason is that is how I was originally introduced to them... :)

      Somehow, my foot often ends up in my mouth, too!!

      Thanks for coming by...take care. :)

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  8. Lololol..."tony curtis"....too fun!
    hugs
    Donna

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    1. I was on a roll, Donna! :)

      Thanks for coming by...take care. :)

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  9. I'm getting hungry just reading recipes. I avoid the TV as much as possible.

    New post: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2023/03/red-one-shoulder-ruched-midi-dress.html

    Have a lovely weekend

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    1. You, too, Melody...thanks for popping in...I've not seen you before. :)

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  10. You dear one still can entertain this USA Southern with your sense of humor. I have never been able to say Oxygen. Just gets rolled around on my tongue to not come out correct. You do remind me of my sister who always states "I like my cats better than most humans" She also prefers their company and has lots of conversations with them. She had a pg black walk on cat who had 6 kittens which except one, my Lilly, and they have a happy life in her garage. She also adopted a little kitten Lola who stays in the house with her. I am a listener as most of my friends and family provide the conversation. I learn quite a bit that way. Peace

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    1. I've a crazy sense of the ridiculous, Miss Kitty! (You've probably guessed that over the yeas we've been mates). I'm glad I gave you smiles. We need them more than ever these days, I reckon! :)

      Take good care of yourself...thanks for coming by.

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  11. I do like the look of the Easter Pie, very delicious.

    My good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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  12. And the same back at you, Jan. I hope all is well up your way...thanks for coming by. :)

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  13. So many dialects here in the U.S. I am guessing all pronunciations are close to correct. I used to think the word asked when pronounced axed by the American Southern Negro was incorrect until I took a course on old English and found it was a variation but correct!

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    1. Not all, Tabor...and I'm not saying I'm not guilty of mispronouncing some words. I annoy myself, too! :)

      Thanks for coming by...take good care. :)

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  14. And, now you have reminded me, Lee, that I do need to call a long-time friend of mine. We used to chat far more often, when we lived in the same state (our native NJ). Now, she is in PA and I live in NH, but no excuses as calls bridge distances. So your post about the conversation with your friend has spurred me to call her. As for the TV pronunciations, I read more online than listen to so any mistakes are my own.

    Now about that food today...My late other prepared spaghetti aglio e olio and added garlic as well. I have never made Easter pie, which looks so good to someone who has to restrict carb intake for a while (South Beach plan) However, it is something I plan to try in future especially using puff pastry and of course spinach is a healthy food. We are off for an out-or-state trip to our native NJ this week for the Easter holiday and my brother's birthday, and wish you and Shama a happy celebration.

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    1. Hi, Beatrice....I hope you and your friend had a good, long catch-up call. I bet she didn't say to you what my friend said to me! lol

      Have a relaxed, enjoyable Easter weekend. Take it easy on the road. I hope lots of chocolate is in the offering. It'll be nice to catch up with your brother...wish him a happy birthday from me...from someone he does not know! :)

      Take care...thanks for coming by. Shama wishes you a Happy Easter, too! :)

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