In connection with the film clip Phil posted below (compiled from footage of Vikings at the Tivoli Fest, Elk Horn, Iowa three years ago), I have finally got my plans nailed down to go to Tivoli again this year, my third time. The dates are May 23 & 24. It’s a long drive, causing one to seriously ponder the eternal question of whether we’d all save a lot of gas if federal highways had been laid out diagonally, instead of east-west, north-south. But you can get there from here, and I’ve proved it before. (There’s always the thrill of bypassing John Wayne’s home town [Winterset, Iowa] as you go.)
Tonight, for no particular reason, I’d like to list three common word mispronunciations that irritate me and make life not worth living.
First, “Prostate.” There is only one “r” in prostate, when you’re talking about the embarrassing male organ. “Prostrate” is commonly substituted for it, but prostrate is how you’re left after the surgery.
Second, “Realty.” In my experience, about 90% of Americans pronounce it “ree-la-tee,” instead of “ree-ahl-tee.” (I’m sure you know this; I’m explaining it for that other guy over there.) I once corrected a female acquaintance on this point, and she said, “I used to work for a ree-la-tor.”
Third, “Calvary.” Lots and lots of people believe that Christ was crucified on some sort of battlefield where mounted warriors had once clashed. Note the placement of the “l” and the “v.” “Cal-vary” is where Christ was executed. “Cav-alry” is the Charge of the Light Brigade and Custer’s Last Stand and “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,” which brings us back to John Wayne, and so neatly wraps up this post.
Have a nice weekend.
Ha! I have never heard the latter two. I think if I did heard someone talk about our redemption at Cavalry, I’d have to laugh. Maybe that’s a Yankee problem. Most a y’all probably don’t know what a cavalry actually is.
Speaking of John Wayne, I should line up one or two of his movies to watch this Memorial Day. I don’t know if I want to try “The Longest Day” though. Maybe a western.
One could do worse. I’m partial to “Yellow Ribbon” myself.
The confusion of “Calvary” and “cavalry” is one of my mother’s pet peeves, and she corrects anyone who confuses the words. So my ear is tuned to it. Throughout my 52 years, I have heard this blunder, but it has always been from using “Calvary” to refer to mounted soldiers.
When you think about it though, Calvary did come to the rescue.
I remember a story, which I hope is true but I can’t verify it, about a church named Calvary in a city with a bar named Hell. Someone new to the area and wanting to drink himself to death asked someone how to get to this Hell bar, and a man told him to go up road until he reached Calvary Church, turn left and head down to Hell (in some many blocks). Somehow the idea of bypassing Calvary to get to Hell stuck with the man, and he stopped at the church to ask for help and probably get saved and live happily ever after.