English Matters

Kalyani

Thanks for the thoughtful comments you have made. I'm glad you enjoyed the poem.

It is true that our mother tongues influence our accents. Here's an interesting thing I found out about myself and my own accent. Although I do not speak Tamil, I am descended from South Indians who did. When I was living and working in India (not my country of birth), I was told that people could make this out purely from the way I pronounced the "th" sound when I spoke English!

To me, this was remarkable and quite exciting, given my interest in language and how we use it. Because I learnt how to speak English in a family that had its roots in southern India, even though I couldn't speak a word of Tamil myself (neither can my parents), and I had not been exposed to the language much, I still retained some of those speech patterns. So my real "mother tongue" lives on in my adoptive mother tongue!

I think most of us (especially since we come from ex-British colonies like South Africa and India) have a tendency to prefer the British style of English, although it does create difficulties when we live in a country like the US. Like you point out, though, it is all a matter of being flexible and accepting different ways of using the language, even though we may not personally subscribe to all of them ourselves.

Ansuya

 

Leena

I really like your name! Thanks for the words of appreciation. It is always good to receive positive feedback - it renews my energy and enthusiasm for this thread and all the good people who contribute to it.

Sanju

Your reply brought a big smile to my face. It is wonderful to know that you are the one who originally asked for a thread like this to be created, and I have been able to help you with what you asked for. I look forward to answering more of your questions in the future.

Ansuya

 

Friends

Everyone seems to have enjoyed the poem very much, which is great! I love poetry, but I am aware that it is something that turns a lot of people off, probably because so many of us had to sit through boring poetry lessons at school.

I wanted to share a great poem with you, one that I used a lot in the classroom, especially with younger children. If you have young children, this is a great way to get them interested in poetry and introduce them to the more metaphorical aspects of language use (humour, symbolism, imagery, imagination, perspective, etc.).

It is a poem about a young child's first day at school, and it can also be used by parents whose children are themselves heading off to school for the first time, as a way to discuss fears and apprehensions and dissolve some of the tensions that often accompany this monumental event in a child's life.

I love this poem for its humour, simplicity, compassion, and of course, the neat and precise way in which so few words are used to say so much, and so well, which is the hallmark of really good poetry. And of course, no matter how many times I read it, I just have to laugh out loud at the last line - enjoy!

First Day at School

Roger McGough


A millionbillionwillion miles from home
Waiting for the bell to go. (To go where?)
Why are they all so big, other children?
So noisy? So much at home they
Must have been born in uniform
Lived all their lives in playgrounds
Spent the years inventing games
That don't let me in. Games
That are rough, that swallow you up.

And the railings.
All around, the railings.
Are they to keep out wolves and monsters?
Things that carry off and eat children?
Things you don't take sweets from?
Perhaps they're to stop us getting out
Running away from the lessins. Lessin.
What does a lessin look like?
Sounds small and slimy.
They keep them in the glassrooms.
Whole rooms made out of glass. Imagine.

I wish I could remember my name
Mummy said it would come in useful.
Like wellies. When there's puddles.
Yellowwellies. I wish she was here.
I think my name is sewn on somewhere
Perhaps the teacher will read it for me.
Tea-cher. The one who makes the tea.

 

Sundarusha

I'm so glad you enjoyed the poem - being able to share it with others only increases the pleasure I take in it, like so many other good things in life. Congratulations on going through the entire thread - I am amazed at how much enthusiasm so many people are showing for this subject, since it requires times and energy to read and make sense of this kind of discussion. I do admire people like you who want to learn on a purely voluntary basis, without the usual incentives that students have. Thanks for your interest!

Sumi

Welcome to the English Matters thread! I am glad I started this thread, but all credit should go to people like Sanju and Srama who were instrumental in its genesis, and of course, the other ILites whose contributions have made it so lively and interesting. I hope you enjoy reading the rest of it - please feel free to ask any questions you may have. I look forward to your continued participation.

Ansuya