“All of us, always, forever.”
Same thing every teacher said every time, ever. It’s a cabal.
No, really, they’re all in it together.
All of them. It’s like a hive mind.
Even the gym teachers.
I would have thought that (after years of immersion among other kids, who do not hesitate to correct any deviation from the norm) Selkie’s accent would be far less than the other Sarnothi kids – Or at least her English would be better than theirs. Kids pick up local accents pretty fast.
Y’know, Gisby, that’s what I thought, so way back when I suggested a physiological reason- that Sarnothi childrens’ teeth encourage unwanted sibilance.
But I then read an interesting article on why Dexter apparently has an Austrian accent (Cracked.com)- apparently children with Asperger’s Syndrome tend to retain the first pronunciation of a word they come across, even if from, say, TV. Selkie may not have the Syndrome in precisely human terms, but however she acquired her current pronunciation, it might well stay with her until consciously corrected.
Although I know I’m wrong, I originally thought it was a speech impediment, and she just had a ‘s’ sound that randomly came out when she spoke a language not designed for her mouth. Like ‘Yesh shir’
Has anyone paid attention to see what parts of speech get pluralized? Nouns, Verbs, Subjects, Predicates? Is it consistent, or just when Dave remembers?
Yeah, I was also disappointed by the “Tensei grammar” explanation. I can readily accept a different concept of plural — for example, English uses an illogical plural for “trousers” and “glasses”, where the corresponding German words are singular. But it bothers me that she even adds an S to words that are already plural. “We’s are’s childrens”, for a made-up example, since I’m too lazy to look up a real one. And if it’s so common for everything to be plural in Tensei, then when would they ever use the singular forms?
It might just be as simple as ‘stubbornness’; the inclination of other people to be weirded out by the way Selkie talks made her more determined to continue rather than give them the satisfaction of changing.
(Remember how, when she heard Todd explaining to his siblings that Selkie’s kiss have him a rash that one time? Her first thought was that they were making fun of her).
The license test for āTrifling with Forces Beyond Comprehensionā is really brutal. Plus the test administrator keeps getting sacrificed to the dark forces.
Our test session was postponed because the kid in the first row had an older brother who had already passed the course. The proctor was only halfway done handing out the tests by the time the kid had finished his casting.
Took a professional cleaning service three days to get that classroom back in order and get the lingering smoke aired out.
The principal who tried to expel the kid never came in to collect his last paycheck.
most little brothers are the SACRIFICE when the older brother is showing off his new diploma to his friends…
are you sure that the kid was STILL “a kid” and not actually some thing from another realm of existence inhabiting his now-lifeless body kinda like the cockroach alien from MIB number one?
The first primal urge is Power; to make all younger siblings acknowledge that you have the power, and you Rock!. The Second primal urge is proprietary; NObody slaps My little brother around but ME! I am part of my family, they qbelong to my family, Hands OFF! Further down the list, but Still Part of being an older brother is to give your younger siblings power, tricks, and techniques, for them to impress their peers so they look good.Because their peers will tell their siblings, Thus increasing your stature and standing in the community, because a reputation for being awesome greatly increases your chances of attracting a high status mate.
I can say from experience that this tactic works – did a school-to-work program with 6th graders, and one of them started talking about having seen the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, and I let slip that I knew about the true story (Ed Gein, for those curious). That immediately got their attention and, after reassuring the teacher that the true story is far less morbid than the fictional one, I was able to use that as a bribe to get them to work quietly for the rest of the period.
I like this teacher. She’s figured out that the best way to get Selkie to listen is to take her flights of fancy seriously.
iĀ“m not sure this is attitude is an act – i say kinnie recognises a fellow evil genius (still in the making)
That’s the way to get ALL children to listen, always.
Trust an English-as-foreign-language teacher on this.
…I’m not sure why “the way to get people to listen to you is to listen to them” seemes to be counterintuitive to many people…
I’m with Rens. Absolutely loving Kin Ro. š
“Yet” made me laugh.
I am loving Kin Ro.
YAY everyone loves Kin Ro <3 Sass master extraordinaire
Indeed! Well done Dave. Full marks on the likable new character.
Mrs. Tu’Daire
(He typed again, to try and stick the name in his memory).
Maybe update the cast page please? I’m struggling a bit keeping these unusual names in my head. A quick reference would help.
“All of us, always, forever.”
Same thing every teacher said every time, ever. It’s a cabal.
No, really, they’re all in it together.
All of them. It’s like a hive mind.
Even the gym teachers.
I would have thought that (after years of immersion among other kids, who do not hesitate to correct any deviation from the norm) Selkie’s accent would be far less than the other Sarnothi kids – Or at least her English would be better than theirs. Kids pick up local accents pretty fast.
Y’know, Gisby, that’s what I thought, so way back when I suggested a physiological reason- that Sarnothi childrens’ teeth encourage unwanted sibilance.
But I then read an interesting article on why Dexter apparently has an Austrian accent (Cracked.com)- apparently children with Asperger’s Syndrome tend to retain the first pronunciation of a word they come across, even if from, say, TV. Selkie may not have the Syndrome in precisely human terms, but however she acquired her current pronunciation, it might well stay with her until consciously corrected.
Although I know I’m wrong, I originally thought it was a speech impediment, and she just had a ‘s’ sound that randomly came out when she spoke a language not designed for her mouth. Like ‘Yesh shir’
Has anyone paid attention to see what parts of speech get pluralized? Nouns, Verbs, Subjects, Predicates? Is it consistent, or just when Dave remembers?
Yeah, I was also disappointed by the “Tensei grammar” explanation. I can readily accept a different concept of plural — for example, English uses an illogical plural for “trousers” and “glasses”, where the corresponding German words are singular. But it bothers me that she even adds an S to words that are already plural. “We’s are’s childrens”, for a made-up example, since I’m too lazy to look up a real one. And if it’s so common for everything to be plural in Tensei, then when would they ever use the singular forms?
(I still love the story and artwork, though!)
As an a person with aspergers… its true. My accent is all over the place.
It’s been described as a grammar issue, not an accent/pronunciation thing.
Good point. Though grammar is also acquired, so perhaps “syntax” rather than “pronunciation”?
Nah…. you got, me, Mikael!
It might just be as simple as ‘stubbornness’; the inclination of other people to be weirded out by the way Selkie talks made her more determined to continue rather than give them the satisfaction of changing.
(Remember how, when she heard Todd explaining to his siblings that Selkie’s kiss have him a rash that one time? Her first thought was that they were making fun of her).
I like this teacher.
May whatever holy Saronthi God(s) exist bless this teacher.
She is truly the hero these children need.
The license test for āTrifling with Forces Beyond Comprehensionā is really brutal. Plus the test administrator keeps getting sacrificed to the dark forces.
Our test session was postponed because the kid in the first row had an older brother who had already passed the course. The proctor was only halfway done handing out the tests by the time the kid had finished his casting.
Took a professional cleaning service three days to get that classroom back in order and get the lingering smoke aired out.
The principal who tried to expel the kid never came in to collect his last paycheck.
i find that extremely unlikely…
most little brothers are the SACRIFICE when the older brother is showing off his new diploma to his friends…
are you sure that the kid was STILL “a kid” and not actually some thing from another realm of existence inhabiting his now-lifeless body kinda like the cockroach alien from MIB number one?
The first primal urge is Power; to make all younger siblings acknowledge that you have the power, and you Rock!. The Second primal urge is proprietary; NObody slaps My little brother around but ME! I am part of my family, they qbelong to my family, Hands OFF!
Further down the list, but Still Part of being an older brother is to give your younger siblings power, tricks, and techniques, for them to impress their peers so they look good. Because their peers will tell their siblings, Thus increasing your stature and standing in the community, because a reputation for being awesome greatly increases your chances of attracting a high status mate.
I like this lady!
Ermagersh, I *LIKE* this teacher!
I can say from experience that this tactic works – did a school-to-work program with 6th graders, and one of them started talking about having seen the Texas Chainsaw Massacre remake, and I let slip that I knew about the true story (Ed Gein, for those curious). That immediately got their attention and, after reassuring the teacher that the true story is far less morbid than the fictional one, I was able to use that as a bribe to get them to work quietly for the rest of the period.