Word Study

Today I came across a word whose origin I had never considered before- handkerchief. In designing a lesson reviewing the vowel digraph and the digraph, I found this amazing word. My hypothesis was that it was a compound of hand + kerchief, which proved to be correct. What I didn't recognize at first was that is formed from the Old French word couvrir "to cover" + chief "head". The word handkerchief has been in use since the 1500's, and is a "one word contradiction of terms" (http://www.etymonline.com/). Incidentally, notice how this word cannot be spelled correctly based on its sound (we don't articulate the /d/ in hand). In order to arrive at the correct spelling, the meaning must be understood. Chalk one up to a fully rounded teaching of orthography!

Superbowl

I really dislike football, but the Superbowl food lineup can be lots of fun! I have been wanting to try these for a few years, and a last minute party invite gave me the perfect opportunity.


I would have liked to serve them on a green tray... perhaps sporting Packer flags in tribute to Kyle's family.

Snow

A winter blizzard is headed our way. In keeping with the typical serious reaction of people in the Twin City area to a forecast of precipitation, the grocery stores have been plundered and Governor Quinn has even declared the entire state of Illinois a "weather disaster area".

With the cupboards fully stocked and the house locked up safe and warm, Piper and I watch the snowflakes gently fall outside the window. It is hard to believe this beautiful picture is supposed to evolve into a raging storm.

I intend to take advantage of the unexpected time off by working through the stack of books on my nightstand that have been patiently waiting to be read. I might even enjoy a nice cup of tea!

Instant Cure

I have a cold.

Being the daughter of a pharmacist, this is the first time I have had to deal with illness apart from the aid of medicine. In suffering from a head-cold-induced migraine, I stumbled upon the perfect "natural" cure.

Instructions:
Down 12 ounces of corn syrup laced coke while taking an excessively long, excruciatingly hot shower.

Side Effects:
You will probably deposit little, dried flakes of what used to be your skin all over the house while your insides suffer untold damage from the corn syrup, the full extent of which only your grandchildren will truly understand. Also, your husband may come home from work with inquiries as to how the bathroom paint peeled off of the walls and ceiling in the course of one day.

I deem these side effects as minor sacrifices in the name of instant gratification from pain. Attempt this cure at your own risk.

The Way We Talk

I have thoroughly enjoyed the class I am taking on the orthography of the English language. The material has expanded my view of literacy, and the discussions have kept my brain sharp. We are at the point in the curriculum regarding phonology (units of speech that construct meaning).

Our teacher emphasized the point that many spelling errors are problems of orthography, not phonology, with this story. A fellow doctoral student is teaching a college level English 101 class. In an assignment, some of her students wrote the following phrases:

from the gecko

hammy downs

While we may laugh at these errors that seem like cards in Mad Gab, phonemes are rarely pure. Which just reinforces the truth I have firmly come to believe- in English, we spell things the way they mean not the way they sound.