"difference" = difficulty; issues; busghetti

[Jonathan Lighter]

This site identifies signs that your child may have a "learning difference" :

  http://www.readingassist.org/traits.htm

  One trait: mispronouncing words, like saying "busghetti."  Other chracteristics that suggest a mere "difference" are


Doesn't know his own strength and may squeeze too tightly.
Can't remember his left from his right...gets lost easily.
  (As observed earlier, there are no more "problems" or "difficulties," only "challenges," "situations," and "issues." A United ticket agent told me just after the Denver blizzard that DIP "still has issues.")

  Surprisingly, Usenet provides fewer than a dozen hits for "busghetti" and "busgetti" combined, none earlier than 2000. I first noticed it about 1995. I don't have it handy, but I've seen a printed ex. in one of Barbara Park's extremely popular "Junie B. Jones" books.

  JL





Victoria Neufeldt <v.neufeldt at SASKTEL.NET> wrote:
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Sender: American Dialect Society
Poster: Victoria Neufeldt
Subject: Re: Just wondering (re: "busghetti")
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The fact that there are so many children who say something like this (and
have been doing so for at least the last 20 years) has made me wonder if it
might not be something they pick up in school, or even as early as
daycare -- perhaps it's used in a story they hear, or a song. I haven't
asked any teachers about this -- just an idle thought. But when you hear
them say it, it's still as cute as it ever was! I am now resisting adding
other interesting childish versions of words and expressions.

Victoria

Victoria Neufeldt
Editor, DSNA Newsletter
727 9th Street East
Saskatoon, Sask.
S7H 0M6
Canada
Tel: (306) 955-8910


----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Lighter"
To:
Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 6:37 PM
Subject: Re: Just wondering


>
> I know a seven-year old who always says "busghetti."
>
> JL
>
> Brenda Lester wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail
header -----------------------
> Sender: American Dialect Society
> Poster: Brenda Lester
> Subject: Re: Just wondering
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
>
> I remember young children saying "bissup" for "except."
> Another is "bah-sket-ti" for "spaghetti." Sorry, no symbols on this thing.
>
>
>
>
>
>


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