Just another absent e curiosity: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1567922961/qid=1139417207/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-3198114-1938431?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Just another absent e curiosity: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1567922961/qid=1139417207/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-3198114-1938431?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Thank you for sharing, Lisa.  Good lyrics.  Of course, you’ve reminded me of one of my biggest language-abuse complaints:  In the past two decades — thanks largely to people in the music industry and the names they’ve given themselves – our younger folk have no concept of the Silent E Rule.  Not only can “can” be pronounced like “cain”, but “cane” can be pronounced like “canny.” 
We have let them take the language whose pronunciation rules and customs are probably the most difficult in human history and make them many times harder.  It is much more difficult to look at any word [especially names] and know how it is pronounced, or to hear a word and know how it is spelled. 
As for “Word Freak,” I’ve seen it and found it interesting and enjoyable, but could not relate very well to all the memorization and stress [and geekiness].  Of course, I say this as someone who once knew all the two-letter words in the Scrabble dictionary — but, who has forgotten many of them and won’t let myself look up the latest list.

Thank you for sharing, Lisa.  Good lyrics.  Of course, you’ve reminded me of one of my biggest language-abuse complaints:  In the past two decades — thanks largely to people in the music industry and the names they’ve given themselves – our younger folk have no concept of the Silent E Rule.  Not only can “can” be pronounced like “cain”, but “cane” can be pronounced like “canny.” 
We have let them take the language whose pronunciation rules and customs are probably the most difficult in human history and make them many times harder.  It is much more difficult to look at any word [especially names] and know how it is pronounced, or to hear a word and know how it is spelled. 
As for “Word Freak,” I’ve seen it and found it interesting and enjoyable, but could not relate very well to all the memorization and stress [and geekiness].  Of course, I say this as someone who once knew all the two-letter words in the Scrabble dictionary — but, who has forgotten many of them and won’t let myself look up the latest list.

Your “e” rant reminded me of one of my favorite e-songs, “Silent E,” by Tom Lehrer. Here are the lyrics:

Who can turn a can into a cane?
Who can turn a pan into a pane?
It’s not too hard to see
It’s silent e

Who can turn a cub into a cube?
Who can turn a tub into a tube?
It’s elementary
For silent e

He took a pin and turned it into pine
He took a twin and turned him into twine

Who can turn a cap into a cape?
Who can turn a tap into a tape?
A little glob becomes a globe instantly
If you just add silent e

He turned a dam – alikazam! – into a dame
But my friend sam stayed just the same

Who can turn a man into a mane?
Who can turn a van into a vane?
A little hug becomes huge instantly
Don’t add w, don’t add x, and don’t add y or z,
Just add silent e

Perhaps the “offendrs” are just afraid of the power of silent e.

Also, as I fellow Scrabble fan, I highly recommend “Word Freak” by Stefan Fatsis. It’s all about the world of competitive Scrabble.

Your “e” rant reminded me of one of my favorite e-songs, “Silent E,” by Tom Lehrer. Here are the lyrics:

Who can turn a can into a cane?
Who can turn a pan into a pane?
It’s not too hard to see
It’s silent e

Who can turn a cub into a cube?
Who can turn a tub into a tube?
It’s elementary
For silent e

He took a pin and turned it into pine
He took a twin and turned him into twine

Who can turn a cap into a cape?
Who can turn a tap into a tape?
A little glob becomes a globe instantly
If you just add silent e

He turned a dam – alikazam! – into a dame
But my friend sam stayed just the same

Who can turn a man into a mane?
Who can turn a van into a vane?
A little hug becomes huge instantly
Don’t add w, don’t add x, and don’t add y or z,
Just add silent e

Perhaps the “offendrs” are just afraid of the power of silent e.

Also, as I fellow Scrabble fan, I highly recommend “Word Freak” by Stefan Fatsis. It’s all about the world of competitive Scrabble.