Please, Don't Laugh At My Pronunciation | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Education

Please, Don't Laugh At My Pronunciation

Phytoplaaaa...Phytopl...yeah, I know its taking me a while to say this word, so what?

315
Please, Don't Laugh At My Pronunciation
Georgina Fernandez

"Take that gum out of your mouth," My first speech therapist told me at three years old.

"I don't know how to," I said a little scared. You could tell my speech therapist was getting a little more irritated as I continued to look at her confused.

"Just grab it and pull it out," She tried to calmly instruct me. Feeling my cheeks go red, I reached into my mouth and tried to grab my gum...the definition being the tissue that surrounds the necks of teeth and covers the alveolar parts of the jaws broadly according to Merriam-Webster ... and pulled. Just spit it out, she ordered as I could feel the tiny tears grow in the corner of my eyes as I continued pulling and spitting.

At the end of the session I would later learn that she was referring to chewing gum, which I did not have. But at three years old, I had no idea what she was referring to by saying just "gum". This for most would mark just one of the cute little kid misunderstandings they would have. However for me, it would be the start of what I can remember of my long struggle with words.

Please do not laugh my pronunciation. Please do not correct me. Please do not try and help me as I am half way through a word.

"Phytoplaaaa...Phytopl..."

"Phytoplankton," some random kid in class correcting me as I am trying to pronounce the word correctly.

"Thanks," I most often mutter under my breath.

Having speech therapy issues suck and it is so under recognized the affect it has on people both academically and socially. As a child I would spend portions of my day in the Special Ed Department having "special" classes as my other classmates would get to be having fun, interactive lessons and doing group projects. Meanwhile I sat in a crammed corner office practicing my "Thhh" and "Shh" sounds over and over again. I was always teased for getting pulled out of class and I remember as an eight year old just wanting to burry myself in my desk every time the Special Ed department would come and pick me up from my regular classroom setting.

Now, 14 years down the line I may have gotten my "Thh" sounds down, but the affects of my speech therapy issues still remain. I can't just look at a big word and say it. I need to sound it out. I just can't just read it and say it like I can read it in my head. I'm not stupid and I know what the word means, but when it comes to reading it and pronoucing ever syllable it is hard. As I dive deeper in broadcast journalist and mock trial, there are times that I question my purpose of being there. Why am I here? What if my voice impairments make it hard for others to hear me? The worse is when you keep trying. And you can feel everyone else around you getting tired as they hear you for the sixth time trying to pronounce a word. Or, you get teased about the way you say something. Oh, no no it sounds cute, they say. But as you smile and try to shake it off, deep down you really are like...dude I'm not trying to be cute. I just trying to get my thoughts out there.

Academically, its hard. Class participation is basically a festival of nerves every day in class. You want to speak up, you got the ideas, but you often feel silenced and that you need to be quite. That if you speak, it becomes too much of a burden to the other students to hear you. If you volunteer to read out load, nobody will understand as well as they might with someone else. For me, this extended into my languages and written abilities as well. I would hear certain things growing up and would go to write them. More then often, very, very incorrectly. I would hear different sounds in words that others wouldn't hear. Making my spelling a mess. I'm not dumb, I remember thinking to myself, I just don't hear what you are saying.

Socially, I have always felt frozen when it comes to talking. Tongue tied, if you will. I have always been surrounded by girls who can use their words like a noose. And then there is me, if I even try to have a come back, my words get twisted. I know what I want to say in my head, but between the nerves and pressure, it all comes out as a mess. They laugh.

Please do not correct us. Do not pity us. Do not try and help.

We got this. We are smart, even if it may take us an extra minute to talk and get our ideas out there.

Don't lower us. Cause we are just as smart and can be powerful with our words just as anyone else.

Someday we will be able to say those "big" words with out an issue. But today, we are just going to have to take an extra moment before crushing it.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

144083
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

35266
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

31430
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments