Years ago I earned and acquired the alias or nickname ‘Light Years Ahead’. For those who read my introduction, you probably know that I love to read books. For those who didn’t read my introduction, well… now you know….. (Read it here).
I’ve been reading books since I was five and have been growing and cultivating my vocabulary ever since. So, my familiarity with words is immense, but I have a small problem. I read these words in a book. However, it’s a problem because I often lack the experience of hearing and pronouncing many of these words in my extensive vocabulary. For example: I was speaking to my father about a mystery book when I mention the word; alias. But I pronounced it ˈeɪliəs’( as in atom) when it is supposed to be pronounced ˈæliəs’( as in alien). My father, hearing me say the word, asked me to repeat myself. Once I did, he asked me to spell the word. After I complied, he gave me a funny look and told me that I was pronouncing it incorrectly.
Most of the people that I meet gloss over or don’t notice that kind of mistake. Or they subconsciously correct it without saying anything. In this case, I never realize my error. But, as it began to happen more and more frequently, my father finally announced that I shall be nicknamed ‘Light Years Ahead’, for, “Your vocabulary is so far ahead of your pronunciation that you are light years ahead.”
And so that is how I came to be nicknamed Light Years Ahead.
(giffy via huffingtonpost . com)
Do you have a similar story or experience? Please post it in the comments below, or, if it deserves its own article, please share the link once it is published.
Thanks for reading!!
Don’t forget to UpVote, Follow and Resteem (if it’s THAT good!)!