Sharpwriters' Thoughts Blog Archives - Archives - July 2001 June 2002 July 2002 August 2002 September 2002 October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 June 2007 August 2007 September 2007 December 2007 March 2008 May 2008 July 2008 August 2008 April 2009 September 2009 October 2009 December 2009 January 2010 February 2010 June 2010 Current Posts Wednesday, April 27, 2011 Pygmalion "The rain in Spain stays Mainly on the plain." I wonder how many times I've recreated myself. Plenty. But I've resolved to do it one more time - with elocution lessons. I don't expect to become the speaking equivalent of Jim Nabors' operatic voice; I'd be satisfied to sound just a little better than his Gomer Pyle character. I remember having heard Nabor's explanation that his father told him, on going away to school, something like "Don't come home talking funny." Whether that's a legitimate memory or not, it's our decision what strengths to exercise in various situations. "Gomer Pyle" spoke clearly and could be understood. That's my goal. When traveling with a group, if I introduce Mike, Europeans greet him as Mack. When I went to graduate school in Nashville, Tennessee, with students in the small school (Scarritt College for Christian Workers) from all over the nation and world, I wrote home the first week, "Everybody talks weird but me." Then my drama coach had a woman from Pennsylvania read my lines for a play with the intention that I listen and emulate them. In that same small college, we all knew each other well, but when a stranger sat down with us, we went around the circle for introductions. I knew the regulars were laying in wait for me to say, "I'm Baaarbaaaraaa Breeeeeedluv from Quaaaaannnaaaahhh, Texas." The a's got longer every time I said them. So, I'm taking elocution lessons. And meanwhile, I'm ready, willing, and able to speaking anywhere in the world for the price of the trip and the right to sell books. Let's hope I learn the elocution lessons quickly, though. But not before I can easily speak effectively, practice, practice, practice."The Rain in Spain Stays mainly on the plane." Share | posted by Barbara Rollins @ 8:13 PM 0 Comments: Post a Comment Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom] << Home