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Monday, April 12, 2010

DAY 12 - NOT-SO-SECRET CODE

NaPoWriMo Day 12
For Read Write Poem





We are more than one-third through NaPoWriMo. If you feel like you’ve started to make things up (two parts desperation, one part coffee grinds), then Carolee Sherwood’s prompt for Day 12 will play into your hand.
Make up a secret code. Begin by writing a few nonsense sentences, like “The raindrops tap out a cry for help” or “The dandelions are saying all at once, ‘You are overwhelmed.’” The formula is easy: come up with a message and assign it to something unlikely. Remember, of course, that inanimate objects can speak and that signs and symbols may be nonverbal.
Once you have a few sentences, select the one that is most intriguing to you and use it to start a poem.


ELL ER FENCE MAUL
SAYS-SIR-TEN FINGZA
BOW TEVO LOO SHUN
F RIT N WURDZ


INNIT…?


a luv thee inglish lingo
4 itz fleks er bil er tea
itz sew er comma d8 in
it wel cumz der u’s f slang
locul axe sense tht er bownd
(sum tht chainj frm st ter st
er breathe-e asians innit
cor bly me no wot a meen)
n miss pre-nun sea asians
tht sum uvver langwidj s
i no wil knot tol er 8
bcuz a nun sea asians
inflek shuns n m-fa sieze
eve n pitch, n toan f voys
r all crew shall elefants
afek tin com pre-hen shun
dye loot in ur wurdz meen in
put in u owt f con tekst
oar wurdz meen nuffin a tall
no skoap 4 2nd gess in
n thts y a luv ingl-ish
er die manic tong 4 shore
(nammic – soz ms. mal er prop )
it d-vel erps con stan lee
(not tht spy d-man bloak
a meen con tin u.s lee
me appollo jeez a gen)
wurdz go in n owt f stile
forrinners r under stud
eve n wither porker mand
und zee vic ist f ex-scentz
wee no r langwidj sew wel
but 1 fing as me puzld
(er numbr f fings m shore)
r diss play f igner urns
wiv the u’s f sir-ten wurdz
2 wurdz in per tik a ler
red illy sprng ter mined
the wurdz ‘UNIQUE’; ‘ORIGINAL’
r band-e’d wil-e-nil-e
ab sir loot lee no re-guard
4 there akchewal me nins
it seams in d corrs f thyme
(oar is it jst r e-goze?)
thee av b cum ker up tid
eve n met a more fr sized
now thee meen thee opper sit
(oar in tht viz innit-e)
f there in 10 did meen ins
fun-e s in serie s
tht 2 sch cloas reller tivs
(n bofe f em vee eye peas)
av tranz 4md frm ab so loots
2 b mesh er din d greez



Just in case you were wondering...

ELEPHANT SMALL SAYS CERTAIN THINGS ABOUT EVOLUTION OF WRITTEN WORDS

AGREED…?

I love the English language for its flexibility. It’s so accommodating; it welcomes the use of slang, local accents that abound (some that change from st(reet) to st(reet).Abbreviations isn’t it? ‘Cor blimey, know what I mean?’), and mispronunciations that some other languages I know will not tolerate, because annunciations, inflections and emphases, even pitch, and tone of voice, are all crucial elements, affecting comprehension - diluting your words’ meaning, putting you out of context, or words mean nothing at all. No scope for second guessing, and that’s why I love English; a dymanic tongue for sure (namic – sorry Mrs. Malaprop). It develops constan(t)ly (not that Spiderman bloke, I mean continuously; my apologies again). Words go in and out of style; foreigners are understood, even with a poor command, and the thickest of accents. We know our language so well, but one thing has me puzzled, (a number of things I’m sure); our display of ignorance, with the use of certain words. Two words in particular, readily spring to mind. The words ‘UNIQUE’; ‘ORIGINAL’, are bandied willy-nilly; absolutely no regard for their actual meanings. It seems, in the course of time (or is it just our ego’s), they have become corrupted, even metamorphosised. Now they mean the opposite (or in that vicinity) of their intended meanings.
Funny, as in serious, that two such close relatives (and both of them VIP’s), have transformed, from absolutes, to be measured in degrees.

16 comments:

  1. As Bavid Dyrne said one time, "Mop Staking Tense!"

    Dell won, mate!

    ~Marko

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  2. Thanks Mark; Nothing makes sense when you have a 'Fear Of Music'.

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  3. Jesus Stan,Annunciations?Hail Mary!

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  4. Thanks RSA; Oh no... Just had a thought - I just made spell check redundant...

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  5. Thanks Rallentanda. For my sins, I'll say one as pennance... Your so full of... grace... ;-)

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  6. Wot fun. How on earth did you manage to write this so quickly - or was the prose already written when you read the prompt?
    I bet your spellcheck put red wiggly lines under everything!
    ViVinFrance

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  7. Thanks to:
    ViVinFrance; It's one I made earlier; just coincided (almost) with today's prompt. And yes, spell check saw red alright!
    Ron; How's that for scrambled - not fried?

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  8. Pure dead brilliant! I'm surprised you weren't cross-eyed by the end of it (or maybe you were!). It can be difficult overcoming a natural inclination for correctness.

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  9. text much? these spellings would be helpful. a fun read. thanks for using the prompt!

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  10. ok, stanski this is way beyond original doesn't do your efforts justice... one of yr best... oh, and thanks for puttin in the translation just like frostin on puddin... take off

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  11. Thanks to:
    Derrick; ...and 'correcting' those 'mistakes' isn't easy...
    Carolee; Thanks for providing it.
    Pamela; Method in madness...
    Pieceofpie; Don't thank me; thank Justin Kays...!
    Kagerr; I'm flattered.
    Wayne; Spelt as it's said...

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