Now let's sort the gents from the chavs...

**Board Game Geek** · 20 April 2007, 00:17

Next !

(I had Elocution lessons and did unseen public speaking competitions at school).

**Euro-commuter** · 20 April 2007, 05:29

Originally posted by chubba

http://bertc.com/english.htm

Try this after the lunch time pint or two. Aloud though, while standing on your chair in the middle of the office. Yes, even if you are working from home.

I don't see anything in there that an educated native speaker shouldn't be able to pronounce at sight; allowing that one or two words have regional variations.

Equally, if it were read at slow speed, every educated native speaker should be able to write it down without spelling mistakes. But I fear it might not be so.

**threaded** · 20 April 2007, 06:03

This one pops up quite regular at various clients as a bit of a laugh. I find the Danes get caught out by the Greek rooted words and especially goddesses: Terpsichore, Melpomene, Psyche.

threaded in "spot the odd one out" mode

**SallyAnne** · 20 April 2007, 08:03

Terpsichore
lichen
Melpomene
enamour
transom
Foeffer
heifer
skein

I've never heard of any of these!!

And wtf is phlegmatic? That can't be a real word surely!

**threaded** · 20 April 2007, 08:08

Originally posted by SallyAnne

Terpsichore
lichen
Melpomene
enamour
transom
Foeffer
heifer
skein

I've never heard of any of these!!

And wtf is phlegmatic? That can't be a real word surely!

You'd have us believe you're a heifer...

**SallyAnne** · 20 April 2007, 08:11

Originally posted by threaded

You'd have us believe you're a heifer...

I refuse to google it - I'll believe you're being kind

**Bagpuss** · 20 April 2007, 08:58

Originally posted by Board Game Geek

Next !

(I had Elocution lessons and did unseen public speaking competitions at school).

What's an unseen public speaking competition?

BTW: What's wrong with essex boy accent (the cockney accent while chewing gum)?

PS: Everyone spoke with an accent until the invention of queens English

**SallyAnne** · 20 April 2007, 09:38

Originally posted by zeitghost

Not read "Trouble with lichen" by John Wyndham?

Take a wild guess

**SallyAnne** · 20 April 2007, 09:38

Originally posted by Bagpuss

PS: Everyone spoke with an accent until the invention of queens English

How do you know? Are you THAT old?!!

Now let's sort the gents from the chavs...