When I was a child I spoke with a lisp. I spoke early and often … to the pigs in their pens, the guard dogs on leases, the chickens running free and sometimes to the elderly aunties shelling peas in their gardens.
Much to my parent’s mortification.
They didn’t have a lot of money but they couldn’t abide raising a chatterbox with a lisp in the time of perfect children. And so … at enormous expense … I was sent to a Speech Tutor. The poor man is a blur to me now but his influence over the way I speak and write is unmistakable. You see he was a proper Brit. And so … needless to say, I stuff my speech with useless phrases like “needless to say” and I have a tendency to say “rather” rather often. (Not that all Brits are fond of pleonasm but he was from a different generation than even my parents).
And don’t get me started on my tendency to alliterate. But what can you expect from a person forced to recite: “Peter Piper” over and over again:
I need to join the gang of Fixed Fairy Tales!
Many editors feel that all unnecessary phrases and words should be eliminated but I like “burning fire” and “dark of night.” And you have to admit (or you don’t) that “I saw with my own eyes” is a lot stronger than “I saw.”
Thanks to all of you who sent your love following the death of my nephew. It’s been a hard couple of weeks for many reasons but I’m finally feeling something other than complete exhaustion. Yes, “complete” is unnecessary but fits the bill.
Saying nothing in particular 
Complete is completely fine in the complete book of Duke. I, too, had a speech tutor in school, maybe, I already told you, but when I was in the first three grades of school, I wrote all of my letters backwards. I didn’t spell very well, but I could sure write letters backwards. The teacher would leave me alone in a room and I’d thrown bean bags through a clown’s mouth. I’m also a little surprised at your upbringing, since as an editor, I think you veer toward less is more and I can recall you being frustrated at my run-on sentences and my use of the word “and” and how I interpret “and” as a free pass to the inside of my mind and people are welcome to come along if they don’t mind riding the word “and” across some sort of wildly careening text. Incidentally, here is a line from another Bunny story I’m right now working on. It’s meta. “You know, I see connections everywhere, Duke. I see connections in you … you’re like one of those lighthouses on the coast, with Cyprus trees and big rocks … oh, I do so love lighthouses … and she looked up and smiled like she was walking down a spring path and there were flowers in her hair.” Glad to hear you are on the mend from a number of POVs. Duke
Oh, yeah, and you hate the word “that”. I completely accept that one. Duke
Thanks Duke. I wonder if you wrote the letters backwards because that’s the way you saw them. You have a unique style that is difficult to trim but you’re right. I’m so guilty of the abusive use of sort ofs and kind ofs, verys and reallys that I do tend towards leanness. I see my own faults in other people’s writing. I like the lighthouse analogy … there are connections everywhere. I think the ability to feel those connections is what saves us.
Your short essay says so much about the rights and wrongs of life, or at least what is perceived as them. Nice job. Blessings to you during this healing time…I hope there are gentle reminders of sweetness to bring you through the hardest days.
Thanks Jet. Writing is a balancing act. You can’t blindly follow one rule or another.
There are a many beautiful words so it’s a shame to avoid them. I think writing style, including word usage, depends on why you’re writing. News may require a certain style, not too fulsome, but a novel might use a number of lush words to give a certain feel or the author might use few words to do the same but with a different desired feeling.
That’s true. Achieving a certain feeling is more important than strictly following the rules
Hello JT. I’m sorry to hear about your loss. I send you my condolences and best wishes.
Thank you.
My father loathed a tautology as if it was a pleonasm in disguise. All rather jolly. Just good to hear your pecker is on an uptick.
Thanks Geoff. I have more energy at least ,,,
I was raised by a British father, so needless to say I rather agree. 😉
Needless to day, indeed!
At age 8 I was sent to a woman speech therapist to cure my own lisp. That thilly tongue kept getting in the way. Thupid tongue.
I recall her trying to place a rubber band on my tongue and telling me to swallow — somehow where the tiny circle ended up would tell her about my pink prehensile prober’s behavior. Gulp, down it went.
I guess it worked, no thilly thylables for me today.
Humans are a tragic species. Sorry for your loss.
Thanks A. I’m trying to pull up all the Thistle: Thee thells thea thells down by the Theashore, right? I know I had to memorize them as well. I still lisp when tired or frightened. Makes me sound quite drunk on the phone.
I know it’s been difficult, but I also think that you’re in a good head space wherein you know it’s okay to be tired. Take care of yourself and use as many alliterative phrases as you need to feel whole again.
Thanks Allie.
I have a friend with a lisp who is also very fond of alliteration and is very chatty. I wonder if she had a similar experience regarding training? I don’t know whether she ever saw anyone for it or not. Perhaps a topic for a future conversation.
I’ve been behind in reading blogs, and am just now seeing that your nephew died recently. I’m so very sorry, that is horrible. I’m glad you’re starting to feel a little stronger.
I’m a firm believer in physical and speech therapy but a lot of people aren’t. It sounds like your friend is a delightful person. As Mr. Rogers said, “I like you just the way you are.” Any death brings a heavy curtain down on us.
I smile and agree!
A most interesting post, Jan. Lol! Now I’d like to hear you speak.
Maybe you should do an audio post of you reading something you wrote…or someone else wrote.
Be well!
Healing can take time.
Hi Jan, I understand your feeling of complete and utter exhaustion having been through some very rough times with my own family’s health (but not as bad as you – hugs). Your post gave me a good laugh. I know Peter Piper very well and also ‘she sells sea shells on the sea shore.
I googled and those two tongue twisters were actually based on real people!
How very interesting. Thanks, Jan.