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Actual conversation today:
Jun. 9th, 2009 10:20 pm
Ana was doing her TH worksheet. Due to somebody's bad choice, the hardest word (thermometer) was the one without a picture. Seriously? They couldn't've put "thumb" there instead? (I suppose thermometer follows the rules better than thumb with that silent b, but it's long and intimidating.)
Ana diligently divided it up into syllables and sounded it out. THER MO MEEE TER.
Me: Thermometer, honey.
Ana: But why is there a METER in it?
Me: Uh... because it's an unstressed syllable and in English unstressed syllables reduce to a schwa*.
Ana: Oh.
I hope I didn't go too far over her head, but like my mother always says, 10% sticks. (Eventually.)
*Actually, the way I say it, it's more like a schwi. YES THAT'S A REAL WORD.
Ana diligently divided it up into syllables and sounded it out. THER MO MEEE TER.
Me: Thermometer, honey.
Ana: But why is there a METER in it?
Me: Uh... because it's an unstressed syllable and in English unstressed syllables reduce to a schwa*.
Ana: Oh.
I hope I didn't go too far over her head, but like my mother always says, 10% sticks. (Eventually.)
*Actually, the way I say it, it's more like a schwi. YES THAT'S A REAL WORD.
