Tuesday, July 24, 2012

The Phonetics of Fostering, Part 2 - Consonants

Please click here if you missed Part 1 (on vowels).

Remember how yesterday I claimed I didn't really sit in my car and mull over phonetics (vowels and consonants) as a metaphor to the pet fostering experience?

Well, that was then. Today is a new day!

I hope you like metaphors. :)

Do metaphors taste like chicken?

So, consonants. There are 26 letters in the English alphabet and, with the exception of the occasional multi-tasking "Y," 21 of them are consonants. Consonants outnumber (moody) vowels 4:1.

Here are a few other things to note about consonants:

  • They cannot stand alone as words (although, imo, "Mmmm" "Grrrr" and "Pftttt" are definitely "words"). ;)
  • They are linguistically in contrast to (moody) vowel sounds.
  • When used as an adjective, "consonant" means "in agreement" or "harmonious."

Okay, so if -- according to my way-out metaphor here -- my fostering woes are mere moody (but inevitable) vowels in a larger alphabet of agreeable and harmonious consonants, how do you think this saga played out?

Well, I'll tell you: I took a step back and made friends with some new (consonant) words! Here are a few favorites:

Humor
Acceptance
Perspective
Patience
Yummy Yogurt Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Yin & Yang ("y" words are hard)

Do you see it?! (Hint: Look at the first letter of each word.)

Even with a few inevitable (moody) vowels thrown in, Moody Vowel Syndrome can't hold a candle to HAPPY!

Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion of this series!

P.S. Have I mentioned lately what kind, good sports all of you are???

9 comments:

  1. Cute little kitty. Have a lovely Wednesday and not too hot we hope.
    Best wishes Molly

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  2. The multi-tasking Y.... LOL You crack me up!

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  3. you have us hanging.... on your every word. Ha! See my funny...

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  4. Oh my, how many parts will this series have? Are you going to start on the parts of speech next? The gerunds of fostering, perhaps? :)

    You have me sitting on the edge of my seat.

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  5. ROFL, you make me laugh! Definitely staying tuned for the conclusion. ;P

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  6. Too funny. I also love that Y is a multi-tasker. I never thought too much about Y before... but Y is quite unique! The only switch hitter in the alphabet!

    Anyway, glad you are HAPPY.

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  7. we learn something new every day
    Benny & Lily

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  8. Strike up another fan of the "multi-tasking y". LOL.

    Of course, I still have no idea where this is going. I'm just glad to see we've moved from moody to happy. :]

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  9. I happened to be in the throes of a terrible Scrabble binge, playing promiscuously with friends and strangers online. Once a fever catches you in Scrabble, it's hard to shake.

    http://www.anagrammer.com/scrabble-words/all-consonant-words

    ReplyDelete

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