One for Glenny

[Terry]

Thanks David,
I checked that out, noticed there was a bit of American V British discussion going on in some of the replies.

When I'm reading a poem that uses one of those words such as beloved, fire, etc. I tend to accept the the way the poet meant it to be read, but it does have the effect of halting the flow for a moment while you decipher it.

I suppose the reverse also happens when the poet has it right but the reader is not aware of the correct pronunciation.


Terry

[warooa]

Interesting list and replies, David . . . but I'm sure at the school I went to we had a Libry, not a Library. I know because I remember being arksed to sit down and draw a pitcher.

To the Queen's English

Never too old to learn proper I suppose

Cheers, Marty

[Neville Briggs]

Never too old to learn proper I suppose

What's proper ?? If you do some research into English usage, you will find that things that were once held to be improper by " authorities " are now standard usage in our speech. Language is about communication, not about fine exactitude in syllables and stresses, and isn't poetry the art of using language to communicate thoughts and feelings, or is it to be a prisoner to some imagined prescription of rightness in construction?

Who says what's right ? Absolutely nobody. Even the venerable Oxford English Dictionary cannot say what ought to be, only what is. In other words the authority of the dictionary can only describe how the language works, not prescribe how it should or must work.

So what are we going to do with our poetry? Be like the pharmacist's prescription; measuring up exact doses in millilitres and milligrams. Or more like the cook's recipe, add a bit, guess a bit, mix or change or add dollops and a pinch " to taste ".
I'll go for the recipe model.

[manfredvijars]

I'll go for the recipe model.

There's countless 'recipes' out there to confuse even the best chefs. That's why it's important to have a good understanding of the 'ingredients'. Ask any chef ...

[Neville Briggs]

The point is. in a recipe there is room for variation. That doesn't discount understanding the ingredients, far from it, creative variation shows understanding of the ingredients.
Any good jazz player knows that.

[Heather]

From grammar to cooking to jazz. Geez ya gotta love poetry!

[manfredvijars]

Yes Nevvie, but there's no such thing as 'good' jazz - EVERYBODY knows that ...

[Glenny Palmer]

...I hate jazz...discordant psycho rambling stuff...

[Neville Briggs]

Yes Nevvie, but there's no such thing as 'good' jazz - EVERYBODY knows that ...

the fallacy of " consensus gentium "

....discordant psycho rambling stuff

Glenny, you mean like contemporary modern poetry

[Glenny Palmer]

Bang on Neville!....that other stuff...