Sunday, November 20, 2011

Slow Down...You're Movin' Too Fast!

I received a phone call the other day.  It went something like this:

Caller:  Hi, lmclinfromunsteranwantoknowifyoudliketomakeanappointmntforyerairbaforethehaldays.

Me:  You’re calling from where?

Caller:  Calling from unsterandwantoknowifyoudliketomakeanappointmntforyerairbaforethehaldays.

Me:  I am sorry. I cannot understand a single word you are saying.  You’re calling from On-Star? (my General Motors navigational system?)

Caller:  Yes.

Me: (Wondering what On-Star would want).  What can I help you with?

Caller: I just wantoknowifyoudliketomakeanappointmntforyerairbaforethehaldays.

By now, I was ALMOST at the point that I thought MAYBE it was me and I was having a stroke or something and couldn’t understand what was happening.

Me:   You’re going to have to slow down and speak more clearly.  I can’t understand anything you’re saying.

Her:     I'm-calling-from-All-Star.  I-wanted-to-know-if-you-want-to-make-an-appointment-for-your-hair- before-the-holidays.

All-Star?  Hair?    Then it hit me.  One day I walked into the new “Ulta” store in the neighborhood.  The store had just opened and I was curious as to what it had to offer.  When I walked in, I noticed that in the back of the store, they were cutting hair. 

I am a spur-of-the-moment kinda gal when it comes to my hair.  Although I do almost all the cut and coloring myself, on this particular day I decided to get a trim from the young girl waiting for her next victim client.  Why not, I thought, and plunked down in the chair.

If you had asked me the name of the salon inside the store, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you.  I thought, perhaps, it was just called Ulta…like the store.

Anyway…now…a couple months later, I received the dreaded sales call.

What is happening to the English language and our young people?  I am horrified!  SLOW DOWN!  Annunciate your words, PLEASE!  I know MOST abbreviate in text messages, but must you speak in abbreviations, too?

This isn’t the first time something like this has happened.

Then today, when I picked up my local paper, a Mr. Frank Beaumont, hit the nail on the head, when he wrote: 

Some can actually understand this overheard conversation:

              “Jeat?”
              “Nodehew?”
              “No, Twirlytweet”

Most of us would scratch our heads and wonder what was said.  

Translation?

             "Did you eat?"
            "No…did you?"
             "No, It’s too early to eat."


I wonder if the English teachers (or ANY teacher) ever tell their students the importance of clearly annunciating their words.  I’ve seen some local access cable shows and by what I see on the “news” channels from our local high schools…….I highly doubt it.

6 comments:

  1. Having taught English, I'm appalled at the lack of understandable verbiage these days with correct pronounciation. Having said that, I needtagonow so I caneat somthin.

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  2. Thanks for your comment, Pam. It's so true. I am afraid of what is happening to our language....both the written and spoken word.

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  3. This is great. My grandkids talk to me that same way and I'm always telling them to slow down. And, just like you I get a phone call and I'm constantly saying "I'm sorry but I don't understand a thing you said." I thought it was just because I was getting older. It feels good to know it is not just me...
    Thanks for the blog.

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  4. I actually found myself at a point and time ago almost (almost) SAYING, "LOL". I would have been mortified. Just goes to show how much of an influence all this on us. And my son is almost 21. Good story! Thank you.

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  5. Hey, After the holidays we should go grab a coffee and chat. I love your blogs, they are so down-to-earth and true life. Thanks for the info on the naming of streets... Have a great Christmas. Sue

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  6. Hi Sue,

    Not sure how to contact you, but I'd love to meet for a chat. I'm going to find you on Facebook!

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