language

I used to believe…

My parents used to say, "six of one, a half dozen of the other." They said it so fast that for many years I thought they were saying, "Sixty-one, a half dozen, or another."

I used to believe that the word "vague", in print, was pronounced "vuh-gyu" or "vay-gyu." I wondered why I never heard it spoken.

I used to believe…

When I was very young I believed that,like a record,everyone only had a fixed amount of verbal communication and would no longer be able to speak.Thats why Im typing this.

I used to believe…

In my family little girls were not allowed to say the word "fart" so for the longest time I thought it was the f-word. When I was about ten years old it finally dawned on me that fart wasn't a cuss word after I saw the actual f-word spray painted on the side of my elementary school.

I used to believe…

When I was in 6th grade, we were learning about organisms in science class. I asked my brother, who was 2 years older then me, if orgasm was plural for organism. He chuckled and told me to ask our mom. I did, and boy was I mortified when she started telling me what an orgasm was!! (And mad at my brother for knowing the answer and just wanting to see me squirm in front of mom!!)

I always thought "amscray" was a foreign word. My Dad would use that to tell us to get out of the car and I thought it was some kind of foreign word for "get out". I was in college before I figured out it was pig latin for "scram".

I used to believe…

All through preschool, I thought that the letters l m n o were one letter, which would be said elemeno.

I used to get common phrases confused because I would only hear them not see them in written form. Examples: Vericose Veins, I thought they were Verycold Veins. I thought War and Peace was the name of the author (Warren Peace). I thought Off the beaten path was Off the beat and path.

I used to think remote control cars were actually called remo-contro cars. maybe because people were saying it too fast.

I used to believe…

When I was about 7 years old, my family and I were going to take a trip to Finland and Sweden. I knew they didn't speak English there, but, for some reason, I believed that their laughter would sound different than mine, as they would laugh in a foreign language!

I used to believe the word "wow" was a curseword. One day I said it aloud on the playground expecting to get looks from the other kids. I was completely shocked when no one paid much attention.

I used to take grammar a little to seriously in my fervour to learn of speech. Convinced of my brilliant intellect, and chuffed with being able to figure it out for myself, I often came out with comments like "That's a good you-dea", and "Open sesa-you"...

I learned how to read before I learned what the letters were called, so when I went to school and they taught us that alphabet song I asked how to spell the letters.

I used to believe…

When I was little, I was once told 'Behave!' (as all kids are from time to time) My response was: 'I'm having!' (have-ing)

I used to believe…

When I was young I met a man who said "BS" in almost every sentence. I asked my dad what BS meant. He told me it meant "Bachelor of Storytelling". It wasn't until several years later that I learned it meant bullshit.

I used to believe the word rapide didn't mean fast but a median speed, I made this connection because the national express buses which travelled at or below 70 mph used to have this word emblazened on their sides, whereas the trains that travelled at 125 mph had the words intercity.