Frequently we become so accustomed to words that we use them automatically without too much attention to the idiosyncrasies that ride along with them. With this thought in mind I have determined to take the following list along the next time I have a doctor's appointment.
Does a nurse have to study Art before she can draw blood ?
If you get ill at an airport will it be a terminal illness ?
Are Doctor's fees ill-gotten gains ?
Can you find out more about your body in your appendix ?
Why do doctors use a scalpel when they are not operating on a head ?
If the nurse checks your heart rate a second time, are you repulsed ?
Do you have to be ambulatory to get in an ambulance ?
Why, years after they left University, are doctors still practising medicine ?
What exactly surges during surgery ?
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Anatomy of Language
The gossip around the market place says that there is going to be another educational change, with a national curriculum for specific subjects. One of these will be Grammar which will be taught right up to Year 12. If this should come to pass and is not subverted by the Troglodyte Party, I shall immediately start petitioning the Pope for early canonisation for Saint Julia.
It is a sad fact that for many, many years, the understanding of our language and all the bells and whistles that make it work has not received adequate emphasis in Primary School and has disappeared into the ether at Secondary Level. Too many of our existing teachers have passed through their own school years with only a casual acquaintance with Grammar and are really ill equipped to teach the subject even if it had been part of school policy.
It seems strange that if a student undertakes a serious study of a foreign language, not just oral use of social phrases and sentences, they embark on a thorough analysis of the composition of the language, the correct use of its components, and perhaps a history of its development. Yet with their own language, it is often a hopeful matter of osmosis. I am not supporting a climate of competitive learning and regurgitation of definitions and examples. A carefully graded interaction with the components and their use in a stimulating, enjoyable manner should create a love for the excitement of words. Again, it should not mean a slavish adherence to former usage, simply because that was how it was once done. Language will change, and as long as there is a clearly defined understanding of current usage, these differences should themselves be examined and codified so that all children in Australia have a whole-school experience with as many aspects of a living language as possible.
This should not result in disposal of the recent emphasis upon an experiential creative approach to written work and sometimes oral work. The two aspects should complement one another to result in unambiguous creations that give pleasure to the creator and the recipient, now and in the future. I shudder to think that a laissez-faire approach to our language resulted in a future Telephone Text Message Language devoid of Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, etc. and their skilful, exciting use in phrases and sentences of beauty. It's always pleasant to dream !
It is a sad fact that for many, many years, the understanding of our language and all the bells and whistles that make it work has not received adequate emphasis in Primary School and has disappeared into the ether at Secondary Level. Too many of our existing teachers have passed through their own school years with only a casual acquaintance with Grammar and are really ill equipped to teach the subject even if it had been part of school policy.
It seems strange that if a student undertakes a serious study of a foreign language, not just oral use of social phrases and sentences, they embark on a thorough analysis of the composition of the language, the correct use of its components, and perhaps a history of its development. Yet with their own language, it is often a hopeful matter of osmosis. I am not supporting a climate of competitive learning and regurgitation of definitions and examples. A carefully graded interaction with the components and their use in a stimulating, enjoyable manner should create a love for the excitement of words. Again, it should not mean a slavish adherence to former usage, simply because that was how it was once done. Language will change, and as long as there is a clearly defined understanding of current usage, these differences should themselves be examined and codified so that all children in Australia have a whole-school experience with as many aspects of a living language as possible.
This should not result in disposal of the recent emphasis upon an experiential creative approach to written work and sometimes oral work. The two aspects should complement one another to result in unambiguous creations that give pleasure to the creator and the recipient, now and in the future. I shudder to think that a laissez-faire approach to our language resulted in a future Telephone Text Message Language devoid of Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, etc. and their skilful, exciting use in phrases and sentences of beauty. It's always pleasant to dream !
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Christopher Robin Addenda
As usual when dealing with human relationships, deeper delving will show that almost invariably "there are two sides to every story". Both A.A. Milne and Christopher R. made their contributions to the rifts that developed through the years. Christopher did suffer emotionally during his childhood, at school, and as an adult from time to time when the constant interest of people with the fictional representation of the little boy and their lack of understanding of the feelings of the real-life individual caused distress. It seems that his early childhood was untainted by the books, but his antipathy began when he attended boarding school at about ten.
To his credit, Christopher seems to have worked hard to become his own man. He studied hard and at University took great geat pleasure in having greater Mathematical skills than his father, though a little less in the literate side. He had sporting interests, particularly in Cricket and Boxing. He learnt the latter in order to deal with the schoolboy teasers who persisted in equating him with the long, blond-haired "angel" of the poems and stories.
He showed great interest and skill in repairing and creating objects, particularly in the mechanical field, and took great pride as a boy and as a man at the extreme effectiveness of his skills. He volunteered to join the army and was accepted in the regular corps, but later transferred to the Engineers which he considered more suited to his talents. Incidentally, this transfer was effected by Milne's intercession with high Army brass. He served effectively in several theatres of war. He married happily, and for many years they ran what became a well-known Bookshop. In later years, he wrote several books, including two biographies about his childhood and subsequent adult escape from Winnie and Co. Extracts from these seem to indicate a wry, witty man and I shall have to begin a search for "The Enchanted Places" and " The Path Through The Trees". Unfortunately, both are now out of print, so it looks like a patient trawl through Thrift and Second-hand Book Shops will be necessary.
An interesting aside: A.A. had hoped for a girl and had Rosemary chosen as a name. When the baby was a boy, one parent chose Robin and the other Christopher. However the boy chose his own name as soon as he could speak properly. He called himself Billy Moon, and the family ended up calling him Billy. So that's how that happened.
And now we say farewell to Christopher Robin and his fictional friends.
To his credit, Christopher seems to have worked hard to become his own man. He studied hard and at University took great geat pleasure in having greater Mathematical skills than his father, though a little less in the literate side. He had sporting interests, particularly in Cricket and Boxing. He learnt the latter in order to deal with the schoolboy teasers who persisted in equating him with the long, blond-haired "angel" of the poems and stories.
He showed great interest and skill in repairing and creating objects, particularly in the mechanical field, and took great pride as a boy and as a man at the extreme effectiveness of his skills. He volunteered to join the army and was accepted in the regular corps, but later transferred to the Engineers which he considered more suited to his talents. Incidentally, this transfer was effected by Milne's intercession with high Army brass. He served effectively in several theatres of war. He married happily, and for many years they ran what became a well-known Bookshop. In later years, he wrote several books, including two biographies about his childhood and subsequent adult escape from Winnie and Co. Extracts from these seem to indicate a wry, witty man and I shall have to begin a search for "The Enchanted Places" and " The Path Through The Trees". Unfortunately, both are now out of print, so it looks like a patient trawl through Thrift and Second-hand Book Shops will be necessary.
An interesting aside: A.A. had hoped for a girl and had Rosemary chosen as a name. When the baby was a boy, one parent chose Robin and the other Christopher. However the boy chose his own name as soon as he could speak properly. He called himself Billy Moon, and the family ended up calling him Billy. So that's how that happened.
And now we say farewell to Christopher Robin and his fictional friends.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Christopher Robin & Associates
It is chastening to realize that sometimes the best intentioned actions are not perceived kindly by the recipient. The subtleties of communication are often lost between sender and receiver, resulting in unnecessary conflict. Such appears to have been the case with Alan Alexander Milne and his son Christopher Robin.
A. A. Milne was the son of two teachers, so it can be appreciated that education and an ability to write would have been encouraged in that family. Milne went to Westminster School where one of his teachers was H. G. Wells who became an early writer of Science Fiction. Milne admired Wells who naturally supported the development of his talent.
Milne and his wife Daphne had only one son, Christopher Robin. He was loved by both parents who, for reasons known only to them, called him Billy, or Billy Moon. At bedtime, Milne regularly told little made-up tales to Christopher. Favourite toys, a bear called Edward, a tiger and other stuffed toys were often the main characters in the stories. Owl and Rabbit were not original members but were added when the book was written.
"Billy" had an adventure in the London Zoological Gardens when he was allowed to feed a tame bear in his cage with milk from a bottle. The bear was named Winnie (shortened from Winnipeg). Of course he became a focal character in subsequent stories. Milne's first publication was "Vespers" in 1923 ("Christopher Robin is saying his prayers"). In 1924 he wrote a collection of poems which included one about a tubby bear. In 1926 came " Now We Are Six", and in 1928 the famous " House At Pooh Corner". Christopher was a very shy boy and did not enjoy the attention that his father's books brought to him. "Vespers" was put to music and became a very popular and frequently played tune, which must have added to Christopher's concerns.
Unfortunately, Christopher wouldn't have any of them read to him by his father, and he didn't read any of them himself until he was sixty years of age. The writings, revered by so many, blighted his life and caused estrangements with his father. Instead of the intimate poems and stories, Milne read tales by P.G.Wodehouse to the boy as he became older.
So there we are. It so sad that such delightful creations, written with the best of intentions, I am sure, would be the cause of a resentful, spoiled relationship. I suppose that Milne's consolation would have been that thousands of other children would have enjoyed his works through many years. We hope that Christopher was able to have an otherwise fulfilling life.
A. A. Milne was the son of two teachers, so it can be appreciated that education and an ability to write would have been encouraged in that family. Milne went to Westminster School where one of his teachers was H. G. Wells who became an early writer of Science Fiction. Milne admired Wells who naturally supported the development of his talent.
Milne and his wife Daphne had only one son, Christopher Robin. He was loved by both parents who, for reasons known only to them, called him Billy, or Billy Moon. At bedtime, Milne regularly told little made-up tales to Christopher. Favourite toys, a bear called Edward, a tiger and other stuffed toys were often the main characters in the stories. Owl and Rabbit were not original members but were added when the book was written.
"Billy" had an adventure in the London Zoological Gardens when he was allowed to feed a tame bear in his cage with milk from a bottle. The bear was named Winnie (shortened from Winnipeg). Of course he became a focal character in subsequent stories. Milne's first publication was "Vespers" in 1923 ("Christopher Robin is saying his prayers"). In 1924 he wrote a collection of poems which included one about a tubby bear. In 1926 came " Now We Are Six", and in 1928 the famous " House At Pooh Corner". Christopher was a very shy boy and did not enjoy the attention that his father's books brought to him. "Vespers" was put to music and became a very popular and frequently played tune, which must have added to Christopher's concerns.
Unfortunately, Christopher wouldn't have any of them read to him by his father, and he didn't read any of them himself until he was sixty years of age. The writings, revered by so many, blighted his life and caused estrangements with his father. Instead of the intimate poems and stories, Milne read tales by P.G.Wodehouse to the boy as he became older.
So there we are. It so sad that such delightful creations, written with the best of intentions, I am sure, would be the cause of a resentful, spoiled relationship. I suppose that Milne's consolation would have been that thousands of other children would have enjoyed his works through many years. We hope that Christopher was able to have an otherwise fulfilling life.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Error Correction
It's interesting to note how "False Memory" can be so strong that it can completely eradicate the truth. I succumbed slightly when my memory associated the supposed "TV commercial" with childhood activities. The association was valid, but the initial impetus for the flashback was not an early Brisbane commercial. It has been repeated a couple of times recently, and it would seem that my memory was triggered by a preview for the forthcoming Sunday evening movie on ABC, " To Kill A Mocking Bird". In a very quick image, someone rolls across the screen in a rather large tyre. I will need to watch the movie once again to check, but it looks as if the passenger in the tyre may indeed be a girl, ( unlike the Grange tyre propellers ), and is probably the heroine, Scout Finch. As well as the great qualities of both the book and the film,I now have an extra interest in the minutiae of the film.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Juvenile Locomotion
A nostalgic mood can be triggered so easily and at times so unexpectedly, ignoring intervening years and leaping back to childhood escapades. In a recent television flashback about life in Brisbane in the early forties, there was a very brief glimpse of a boy curled up in a car tyre, just rolling along. It was literally a two-second shot, but the rest of the programme disappeared as I returned to my childhood days, about age nine or ten.
In retrospect, it seems that the boys of our street at that time seldom moved unless accompanied by a car tyre. Forget about those sissy hoops seen in English comics ! [ Only two sisters lived in our street and they were not allowed the freedom to wander that the little males were given.] So tyre-rolling was strictly a boys' preserve. This period was probably between having a scooter and not yet acquiring the long-desired bicycle. The tyres chosen were usually tall and narrow like those on an old T-model Ford, unlike today's chubby donuts which are useful only for moving cars. Because they were relatively light, the tyres were easily bowled along by hand and therefore they were hurtling up and down our street most evenings just before dusk, or accompanying us across country to Kedron Brook, or even as far as the Yankee Dump where they might be discarded or exchanged for a new model for the trip home. There was no sentiment in tyre bowling circles. Tyres are more suited to rapid transit than a boring walking pace so most tyre motion was done at a running pace. Despite my nickname, there were no fat boys in our neighbourhood.
By far the most fun we had with tyres was to curl up inside one, (like the boy in the TV clip), grip the sides tightly and allow a mate to propel the tyre down our dead-end street. A black right hand was the sign of a regular tyre propeller. I can remember the excitement and laughter, but strangely not the gravel rashes that must have accompanied our fun. Not one family in our street owned a car, so the street was invariably our domain.
If, at any time, the street was declared out of bounds by higher authority there was always the back yard. This did not even require a "driver" as the house was on the side of a hill, so gravity did the job of propulsion, and in emergencies the back wall of the house provided a brake, admittedly a little abruptly.
Sadly, we became "too big" for that game, or someone was hurt, creating an embargo on tyre trips , or maybe a pair of narrower tyres attached to a bicycle frame automatically ended the era of the used tyre propulsion. It was fun while it lasted !
In retrospect, it seems that the boys of our street at that time seldom moved unless accompanied by a car tyre. Forget about those sissy hoops seen in English comics ! [ Only two sisters lived in our street and they were not allowed the freedom to wander that the little males were given.] So tyre-rolling was strictly a boys' preserve. This period was probably between having a scooter and not yet acquiring the long-desired bicycle. The tyres chosen were usually tall and narrow like those on an old T-model Ford, unlike today's chubby donuts which are useful only for moving cars. Because they were relatively light, the tyres were easily bowled along by hand and therefore they were hurtling up and down our street most evenings just before dusk, or accompanying us across country to Kedron Brook, or even as far as the Yankee Dump where they might be discarded or exchanged for a new model for the trip home. There was no sentiment in tyre bowling circles. Tyres are more suited to rapid transit than a boring walking pace so most tyre motion was done at a running pace. Despite my nickname, there were no fat boys in our neighbourhood.
By far the most fun we had with tyres was to curl up inside one, (like the boy in the TV clip), grip the sides tightly and allow a mate to propel the tyre down our dead-end street. A black right hand was the sign of a regular tyre propeller. I can remember the excitement and laughter, but strangely not the gravel rashes that must have accompanied our fun. Not one family in our street owned a car, so the street was invariably our domain.
If, at any time, the street was declared out of bounds by higher authority there was always the back yard. This did not even require a "driver" as the house was on the side of a hill, so gravity did the job of propulsion, and in emergencies the back wall of the house provided a brake, admittedly a little abruptly.
Sadly, we became "too big" for that game, or someone was hurt, creating an embargo on tyre trips , or maybe a pair of narrower tyres attached to a bicycle frame automatically ended the era of the used tyre propulsion. It was fun while it lasted !
Friday, February 12, 2010
Crash Blossoms
Words can sometimes be recalcitrant creatures. You think you have them trained to say what you want them to say, then you find rebels who decide to convey an entirely different message. We heap praise on the bright little words who have developed the capacity to have differing meanings or even stand for completely different things. But the rogues are always lurking, and it seems that one of the favourite people they try to catch unawares is the Headline Writer. Examples of their misbehaviour are constantly being collected, some of which can be proved to be true and probably just as many which surely must be apocryphal. All provoke some interesting pictures.
These misinterpreted headlines have been called Crash Blossoms or Garden Paths. Here are some chosen examples that caused me to react with a gentle smile and sometimes with a surprised chuckle.
McDONALD'S FRIES THE HOLY GRAIL FOR FARMERS
BRITISH LEFT WAFFLES ON FALKLANDS
SQUAD HELPS DOG BITE VICTIM
RED TAPE HOLDS UP BRIDGE
'GATOR ATTACKS PUZZLE EXPERTS
JUVENILE COURT TO TRY SHOOTING DEFENDANT
MINERS REFUSE TO WORK AFTER DEATH
SMOKING RISKIER THAN THOUGHT
LAWMEN FROM MEXICO BARBECUE GUESTS
POLICE CANT STOP GAMBLING
ANTIQUE STRIPPER TO DISPLAY WARES IN STORE
POLICE DISCOVER CRACK IN AUSTRALIA
GRANDMOTHER OF EIGHT SHOOTS A HOLE IN ONE
STOLEN PAINTING FOUND BY TREE.
It seems that Proof-readers, Spellcheck, or disgrunted readers cannot rein in these lurking monsters. Thank Goodness !
These misinterpreted headlines have been called Crash Blossoms or Garden Paths. Here are some chosen examples that caused me to react with a gentle smile and sometimes with a surprised chuckle.
McDONALD'S FRIES THE HOLY GRAIL FOR FARMERS
BRITISH LEFT WAFFLES ON FALKLANDS
SQUAD HELPS DOG BITE VICTIM
RED TAPE HOLDS UP BRIDGE
'GATOR ATTACKS PUZZLE EXPERTS
JUVENILE COURT TO TRY SHOOTING DEFENDANT
MINERS REFUSE TO WORK AFTER DEATH
SMOKING RISKIER THAN THOUGHT
LAWMEN FROM MEXICO BARBECUE GUESTS
POLICE CANT STOP GAMBLING
ANTIQUE STRIPPER TO DISPLAY WARES IN STORE
POLICE DISCOVER CRACK IN AUSTRALIA
GRANDMOTHER OF EIGHT SHOOTS A HOLE IN ONE
STOLEN PAINTING FOUND BY TREE.
It seems that Proof-readers, Spellcheck, or disgrunted readers cannot rein in these lurking monsters. Thank Goodness !
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