ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

the discussion about paddock and mattock got me thinking (it's a slow day!)

These mispronounced words really grate on my nerves

anythink instead of anything.

somethink instead of something.

Grrr...

Getting bought and brought mixed up. Now that really gets me annoyed!

It's not that difficult. If you buy something you bought it.

If you bring something you brought it...

Easy!

Go on, you know you want to,

blame the mothers - if not them then the teachers. And in both cases you would be right. I was, with my own three, (and my girls with their children are) a stickler for correct pronunciation. We did not fall into the practice of using baby talk. Even tough we allowed a couple of new words, that the children in question invented, generally they spoke so well that we often forgot that they were as young as they were. As I speak (metaphorically) my grandson, who will be four at the end of this month, has been able to carry on an intelligent conversation since he was barely two. The girls are ever quicker to speak well. I had one with a lisp. She found it difficult to say the sound of combined letters eg 'ch' and 'sh' and also 's'. The sentence "this is the way to church" would have been a nightmare. However with persistent gently correction she had overcome it by age seven.

I can recall having a discussion with one of them (then aged three) in which she won the debate. I have often said, I did not win an argument with her from that day on. When she was at that difficult age (you know from 3 to 23) I had to resort to the "I am the mother and I said!" to finalise a debate.

I just use "You're a Knight so you are always right!" (I'm a Knight by marriage not by birth)

I get very upset by alarmed doors - as in this door is alarmed Totally impossible IMO with an inanimate object - it may well be fitted with an alarm system but it ain't alarmed.

The other is potato and tomato often seen as having a toe which they don't unless there is more than one of them when they can then morph into potatoes and tomatoes

Hi HEATHER ( somethink instead of something.) as you quoted

SOMETHINK which means just that somethink EG as in a thought

SOMETHING which means just that EG an articale

NOW MAUREEN you quote this is an ALARMED DOOR which is true as it is a door that has been fitted with an alarm therefor making it an alarmed door EG it is the discription of the door and it is an inanimate articale therefore it has no feeling I believe

Bill Williams

I...like....really do not...like....care for ''like''... every 4th word in a sentence.....HIVES!!!

and you know like - if you add you know in it sounds like, you know - so much better, you know

Cor...where's me Calamine!!

Glenny, check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNryxZhe7kA

It's a bit hard to understand at first, but stick with it. I think you'll find it pays off.