I think I've told you before that I was Spelling Bee Champion at my elementary school, Mary S. Boyd. It's not something that I still hold onto, I'm sure I've been out spelled for years now and I'm OK with that. What bothers me is that I've lost so much of my ability to retain the rules of writing and spelling, punctuation, the use of the English language. Anal, obsessive-compulsive or just embarrassed, I don't know for sure the
Until I started writing down my thoughts on this blog 3 years ago, the most writing I ever did was checks. Yes, even more than writing letters, I wrote checks! So, I guess you get out of practice in time. You are a forgiving lot, my blogging friends who know I write "Arkan-ese!" I should not try to embarrass my Arkansas family since I am truly from Missouri so I'll just say "Ozark-ese!" Whatever, I write like I talk in person and it's a mixture of all the blood I have in me going back to pioneer days when my Grandmother's family migrated from East Tennessee. My Great-grandmother was full blooded Cherokee and came to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears.
Iroquoian is the official language of the Cherokee and according to Wikipedia, it's in imminent danger of extinction. Just like me, they are losing it by not using it. Less than 10% of the Cherokee people still speak or understand the language of their ancestors. There are language programs in place, but there's just not much interest anymore. If you'd like to see what Cherokee looks like on a keyboard, you can click HERE. It's unique, they use Roman orthography with certain accents and symbols added to represent sounds not available in the 26 letter Latin alphabet. I think it's a lost cause on me, I can't even keep up with the correct use of apostrophes!
You will never know how much your blog means to me today!! I do the same thing, can't spell much, use the wrong punctuation, wrong tense, and start every sentence with 'But'. I thought it was the early on set of dementia. So its not just me. I will overlook your boo-boo's if you over look mine. Blogging does keep us in practice using the English language. Question, what will happen in 50 years when all these texters grow up? Will English as we know it totally change? (Whole new blog subject--
ReplyDeleteYou just made my day! If I didn't have spell check (when I think to use it!) I'd be in big trouble ;)
DeleteI'm the same way. I use....dot dot dot all the time now instead of trying to figure things out!! Not good...but the way it is. I used to be a champion speller also...I have had to look up at least five words in the past week...one word (skeptical) I couldn't even figure it out enough to look it up...I had to look up another word to see if they had it listed as an alternate(sp?)ha!..I can't even remember the word that means the same as...all is lost!
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't know what to do without dot dot dot, it's my friend! My brain goes dot dot dot too!
DeleteI was the spelling bee champ too and liked English, but now I can't remember all the participles, gerunds, etc., etc. I too use dot dot dot and dashes, but too much and And. I think your blog is great.
ReplyDeleteI think it's hilarious that we were all champion spellers and not we can't spell or punctuate or use the proper participle! Oh well, the good thing about getting old is that even if it bothers me this morning, by this afternoon I've forgotten it all!
DeleteI love the dot/dash! Always works for me! You just keep doing what you are doing! lol
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle, there's not much hope for me so I appreciate the kind words!
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