Interesting Fact # 1

Fellow Logophiles and Wordsmiths are well acquainted with the often bizarre oddities of the English Language but DID YOU KNOW that the combination "ough" can be pronounced in nine different ways? The following sentence contains them all: "A rough-coated, dough-faced, thoughtful ploughman strode through the streets of Scarborough; after falling into a slough, he coughed and hiccoughed."

If words are one of our main tools of the trade, it might be easier to learn to write in Finnish. But in the words of Hemingway, Love the Word and defend it against its enemies!


Comments

Charmaine Clancy said…
There's a great scene in an 'I Love Lucy' episode where Ricci tries to read a children's book and comes across all those 'ough' words - his Spanish can't cope with it.
Great post :)
Wagging Tales - Blog for Writers
4 June 2011 at 19:33
DimbutNice said…
I loooved I love Lucy. Probably too young to remember that quote. Spanish seems a much more sensible language at times. Gracias Charmaine!
4 June 2011 at 20:04
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