crooked house

Welcome to the Future

This will blow your mind. I am going to download the free sample of the Word Lens app right now. (Note: only the English/Spanish version is available right now. Can't wait for the French.) I've recently downloaded two other really fun apps: the Hipstamatic and Talking Carl. The Hipstamatic takes vintage-looking photos and some people can get really cool results with it. I've been playing with it for a couple of days and will share soon. Talking Carl, who repeats whatever the children say to him in a funny voice, keeps them occupied for ages.

I wish everyone could afford to have an iPhone. Apps like these would make fantastic stocking stuffers.

Back A Dictionary Story

 

 

I just pledged $20 through Kickstarter to support the production of artist Sam Winston's art book A Dictionary Story. If he manages to raise enough money for the project, I'll get a copy of the book, which was originally produced in a prohibitively expensive limited edition of 100. (Museums like MOMA own copies.) If Winston doesn't raise the money by October 13, I get my money back. I hope he raises enough in time. I love the idea for this book and I also love the idea of Kickstarter, which seems to me a great way for creative types to drum up interest in their projects -- and money. Via swissmiss. Go here to view the images enlarged.

More Words

I'm not sure how much longer these pronunciations will be with us so I am going to record them here, as they occur to me. I'm trying to get them on video, too.

1. "lellow" for "yellow"
2. "dispaheared" for "disappeared"
3. "animers" for "animals"
4. "hopsital" for "hospital"
5. "inspensive" for "expensive"

Rug Burn and Canadaspeak

When I picked up Luke from preschool at lunchtime, he had a few new marks on his face and some evidence of a bloody nose. Apparently he fell face first off the jungle gym and into the carpet. Vocabulary words of the day? "Rug burn."

***

Luke is examining the tag on one of his birthday presents, a soft plastic worm covered with spines that glows when you squeeze it, which appears to have been made in Germany.

Luke: What language is this? German? Isn't there any Canadaspeak?

So many questions: How did he know that the tag was written in a foreign language? How did he know it happened to be German? And how come he doesn't know that the language he speaks is called English?

Four. It is a fascinating and mysterious age.

Modeling, Might Could, and Capknees

On Saturday, the day after the sky dumped a foot of snow on the ground, I watched an America's Next Top Model marathon. That's it on the television behind Luke. I don't think I'd seen even one full episode of the show before but I've got a cold and all-day morning sickness and I couldn't even read. Luke watched a little bit with me -- and then he wanted to try modeling himself. This is one of his "poses."

Ever since, he's been demanding that I take pictures of him but as soon as I pick up the camera he begins to fling his arms and legs around in a frenzy while an assortment of grimaces appear in rapid succession on his face, many of them featuring a tongue stuck out in concentration. Most of the photos are out of focus.

Here is one that isn't, from later that evening:

In other Luke news, he keeps referring to his sore "capknee" instead of his "kneecap." Also, he has recently been using the constructions "might can" and "might could" as in "We might could play that game later, Mama." I believe but am not certain that these are grammatical constructions used in the south and it's interesting how he's developed them spontaneously. Unless, of course, it has something to do with reincarnation. Obviously. I'm trying to think of southern supermodels who "passed over" more than 3 and a half years ago. Maybe one with knee trouble.

He's Already Got the Body Language Down

Steph and Luke are in the car, listening to the song "Mariposa Ole" (from the Dan Zanes CD Catch That Train!).

Luke: They are singing in Chinese.
Steph: Actually, honey, that's Spanish.
Luke: Oh. How do they do that?
Steph: Well, they know how to speak Spanish.
Luke: I can't do that.
Steph: Well, you could learn. I was thinking you could learn another language next year. I was thinking you could go to a French preschool, so you could learn to speak French like Auntie Caro, and your cousins Max and River.
Luke: I will do that when I'm a big boy.
Steph: Well, you'll be 4 next year.
Luke: I will have to do it when I'm 10. When I'm a big boy.  I can't do it when I'm 4.
Steph: Sure you can.
Luke: No, I can't. I can't speak French. I don't know how they do that. See? (He pauses, takes a deep preparatory breath and then opens and shuts his mouth dramatically.) See? (He holds his hands out to the sides, palms upright, and shrugs.)

Marie Smith Jones, Last Native Speaker of the Eyak Language

Marie Smith Jones, the last native speaker of Eyak, died last month in Alaska -- and the language died along with her.  Via Out of the Woods Now, who attended a lecture on the future of languages by linguist David Crystal at the Hay Festival. Crystal asked the audience to imagine being the last speaker of a language. At present, there are 60 such people on the planet.

The U.N. has declared 2008 the International Year of Languages.

Tom Swifty Contest

David over at the mental_floss blog writes about the genesis of Tom Swifties and how he was introduced to them by a short story of Lorrie Moore's. You know about Tom Swifties, right? He invites  you to come up with the best one in the world. If  you do, he'll send you a t-shirt. "Although I do think  a good Tom Swifty might be worth a little more than that," she says appreciatively.* Via Bookshelves of Doom.

*"I... haven't... had... much... coffee... yet," she explains slowly.