Hi Everyone,
Yesterday and today were days of travel on foot and car. While walking the Freedom Trail in Boston, and traveling by car to Plimoth and Cape Cod, there were encounters with many people. Like, you know... Yes, I heard like so many times I was ready to scream. I am not referring to caring about something or the lesser of love. So many people would start sentences with Like! At least the tour guides/docents at the different stops gave their information without like.
As my family and I discussed what we were hearing throughout both days, we started talking about hearing like used inappropriately by our government leaders, newscasters, people running for office, as well as the common person on the streets of our grand nation. We need to move beyond Valley Speak.
A challenge to everyone...speak without using like to begin your various sentences and throughout the sentences. If you are comparing items, then say "comparing/comparison, such as," etc. Anything but like! You can accomplish this task and you will sound much better to those around you as you are going to be using a wide variety of vocabulary.
Have a good day!
Uber Professor
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Friday, July 23, 2010
Our Dialecticle Nation
Hidee Ho,
As we landed in Boston, MA a wonderful feeling came over me. Speech. Hearing how one talks. It was sobering to see the flag over C19, and then even more so when the plane actually used that very gate to let us depart. Silence filled the plane, a time of reflection of those who died on 9/11.
As the time came to jump into a cab, the driver greeted us with his Boston accent. Or should I say he welcomed us to Baaaahston! What a fabulous ride. He was a story teller and quite the character. He even gave a rendition of a recent passenger who was Scottish.
This encounter brought back the thoughts of our great nation and the collage we as individuals create. Our regional dialects are pieces of this collage. Please think about how each of us add to a beautiful piece of work.
Leaving the Berkshires and off to the North Woods. Many dialects to hear in MA, ME, VT, NH, and RI. I will keep you aware as we travel of our encounters and experiences.
I can smell the Ben and Jerry's!
Blessings to you all,
Uber Professor
As we landed in Boston, MA a wonderful feeling came over me. Speech. Hearing how one talks. It was sobering to see the flag over C19, and then even more so when the plane actually used that very gate to let us depart. Silence filled the plane, a time of reflection of those who died on 9/11.
As the time came to jump into a cab, the driver greeted us with his Boston accent. Or should I say he welcomed us to Baaaahston! What a fabulous ride. He was a story teller and quite the character. He even gave a rendition of a recent passenger who was Scottish.
This encounter brought back the thoughts of our great nation and the collage we as individuals create. Our regional dialects are pieces of this collage. Please think about how each of us add to a beautiful piece of work.
Leaving the Berkshires and off to the North Woods. Many dialects to hear in MA, ME, VT, NH, and RI. I will keep you aware as we travel of our encounters and experiences.
I can smell the Ben and Jerry's!
Blessings to you all,
Uber Professor
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Selfish Writing and Speaking
Hi!
Selfish. Me, me, me! Today's topic is all about how the use of "me" has become the first and foremost of writing and speaking. Read any post and you will find most creators place "me" before anyone else. Listen to conversations. Sentences most often begin with "me" and then continues.
What happened to the old adage of "You before me?" This should stay intact. Many Boomers and Xers call the Millennial Generation the Me Generation, yet when you read anyone's post or listen to anyone speak, no matter what generation, everyone is guilty of putting "me" first.
Today I challenge you to listen to yourself and edit what you write. Put others first. You should come after everyone else. Read this: My family and I/me, or Me and my family. Which phrase looks and/or sounds better. Are you really the most important?
Put everyone else first today! You can do it!!
Also, I am going to plug Wordsmith.org. If you sign up, this site will send you a Word-of-the-Day, Monday through Friday. It not only gives you the word, but pronunciation, meaning, etymology, usage, and A Thought For Today. This is a great way to increase your treasure chest of words.
Take care and put yourself after others.
Have an absolutely blessed day,
Uber Professor
Selfish. Me, me, me! Today's topic is all about how the use of "me" has become the first and foremost of writing and speaking. Read any post and you will find most creators place "me" before anyone else. Listen to conversations. Sentences most often begin with "me" and then continues.
What happened to the old adage of "You before me?" This should stay intact. Many Boomers and Xers call the Millennial Generation the Me Generation, yet when you read anyone's post or listen to anyone speak, no matter what generation, everyone is guilty of putting "me" first.
Today I challenge you to listen to yourself and edit what you write. Put others first. You should come after everyone else. Read this: My family and I/me, or Me and my family. Which phrase looks and/or sounds better. Are you really the most important?
Put everyone else first today! You can do it!!
Also, I am going to plug Wordsmith.org. If you sign up, this site will send you a Word-of-the-Day, Monday through Friday. It not only gives you the word, but pronunciation, meaning, etymology, usage, and A Thought For Today. This is a great way to increase your treasure chest of words.
Take care and put yourself after others.
Have an absolutely blessed day,
Uber Professor
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Not Kissing Cousins!
Good Day Readers!
Did the title pique your interest? Good! The topic comes from reading social networking sites and seeing the use of "cuz" for the word "because." My notes throughout the day indicate such uses as - cuz it feels good, I can't wait cuz, and cuz it's fun. Let's look at the definitions for cuz. 1. an abbreviation for cousin, 2.a term for crips to use for gangbanging purposes, 3. a brand of rubber dog toys, 4. an IATA abbreviation for Cusco, Peru.
Did texting bring about the downfall of usage for the shorted version of because thus becoming 'cause, then degrading down to cuz? Please do not use cuz, unless you are using one of the proper definitions. Let's improve our use of the English Language. Remember, often how we speak becomes how we write, and how we write often becomes what we say.
EWWWW! Heard "anyways" several times last night, but not at my dinner table. Thank goodness.
Busy day ahead with reading and writing. Reading Millennials in the Workplace by Neil Howe. Doing a review of the book and need to read over marked points for writing the review.
Have a very blessed day,
Uber Professor
PS - Did you notice the italicized, bold pique at the beginning of the post? Just another lesson!!! More on that in a future post.
Did the title pique your interest? Good! The topic comes from reading social networking sites and seeing the use of "cuz" for the word "because." My notes throughout the day indicate such uses as - cuz it feels good, I can't wait cuz, and cuz it's fun. Let's look at the definitions for cuz. 1. an abbreviation for cousin, 2.a term for crips to use for gangbanging purposes, 3. a brand of rubber dog toys, 4. an IATA abbreviation for Cusco, Peru.
Did texting bring about the downfall of usage for the shorted version of because thus becoming 'cause, then degrading down to cuz? Please do not use cuz, unless you are using one of the proper definitions. Let's improve our use of the English Language. Remember, often how we speak becomes how we write, and how we write often becomes what we say.
EWWWW! Heard "anyways" several times last night, but not at my dinner table. Thank goodness.
Busy day ahead with reading and writing. Reading Millennials in the Workplace by Neil Howe. Doing a review of the book and need to read over marked points for writing the review.
Have a very blessed day,
Uber Professor
PS - Did you notice the italicized, bold pique at the beginning of the post? Just another lesson!!! More on that in a future post.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Screeching!
Good Day!
Already! Then and than! These two little four letter words are so mixed up so often on tickers, blogs, social networks! It drives me crrraaazzzzyyy! Let's try to get this cleared up.
Then is a an event word. E = event Then can be used in a series or chronologically. Examples - Then we went to the City, then we added the hot coals, then it happened.
Than is a comparison word. A = comparison Than can be used when comparing. Examples - The Dude is cooler than ordinary people, she is happier than he is, I would rather go to San Francisco than Sacramento.
Two simple little four letter words that can be used in proper format when using the mnemonic clues of "e" and "a" - event and comparison.
Now onto the latest. Please check out a colleague's opinion about the word usage of "refudiate."
http://www.aolnews.com/opinion/article/opinion-refudiate-this-sarah-palin-gets-shakespeare/19560333 This should provide some smiles.
Have a wonderful day!
Read, write, and listen,
Uber Prof
Already! Then and than! These two little four letter words are so mixed up so often on tickers, blogs, social networks! It drives me crrraaazzzzyyy! Let's try to get this cleared up.
Then is a an event word. E = event Then can be used in a series or chronologically. Examples - Then we went to the City, then we added the hot coals, then it happened.
Than is a comparison word. A = comparison Than can be used when comparing. Examples - The Dude is cooler than ordinary people, she is happier than he is, I would rather go to San Francisco than Sacramento.
Two simple little four letter words that can be used in proper format when using the mnemonic clues of "e" and "a" - event and comparison.
Now onto the latest. Please check out a colleague's opinion about the word usage of "refudiate."
http://www.aolnews.com/opinion/article/opinion-refudiate-this-sarah-palin-gets-shakespeare/19560333 This should provide some smiles.
Have a wonderful day!
Read, write, and listen,
Uber Prof
Monday, July 19, 2010
What to do...
Hi All,
If you want to receive this as a daily email, please sign up! I will come right to your inbox. Well I won't but my comments will! Ha! And to think that I surprised someone the other day by commenting "Woot! Woot!" because I have a Ph.D. My retort? "I am normal after all!" HAHAHAHAHA! I just love to laugh as opposed to moaning when I hear or see misuse of words.
Blessings to you ALL,
Uber Prof
If you want to receive this as a daily email, please sign up! I will come right to your inbox. Well I won't but my comments will! Ha! And to think that I surprised someone the other day by commenting "Woot! Woot!" because I have a Ph.D. My retort? "I am normal after all!" HAHAHAHAHA! I just love to laugh as opposed to moaning when I hear or see misuse of words.
Blessings to you ALL,
Uber Prof
Nails-on-the-Chalkboard
Welcome to the Uber Professor!
This blog will give a daily dose of what grates me the wrong way regarding word usage. Today, I had had enough of reading and hearing the use of "anyways" as it is used by a lot of people both in conversation and in writing. As well, I was listening to a news program and the person said he had graduated college. How do you graduate a college. You might graduate "from" a college, but you are not so powerful that you can graduate a college. What kind of degree would that take!
Irritated, needless to say, I posted on FaceBook the following: Speaking of words... one does not graduate high school/college. One graduates "from" hs/college. Anyway not anyways. Just had to start my week with nails-on-a-chalkboard uses of our language.
There you have it. This blog will give a daily dose of what is being used in the way of words and what should be correctly used.
Have a blessed day,
Uber Professor
This blog will give a daily dose of what grates me the wrong way regarding word usage. Today, I had had enough of reading and hearing the use of "anyways" as it is used by a lot of people both in conversation and in writing. As well, I was listening to a news program and the person said he had graduated college. How do you graduate a college. You might graduate "from" a college, but you are not so powerful that you can graduate a college. What kind of degree would that take!
Irritated, needless to say, I posted on FaceBook the following: Speaking of words... one does not graduate high school/college. One graduates "from" hs/college. Anyway not anyways. Just had to start my week with nails-on-a-chalkboard uses of our language.
There you have it. This blog will give a daily dose of what is being used in the way of words and what should be correctly used.
Have a blessed day,
Uber Professor
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