films

[Brian Richards]

Dear Phil, you are right about Monty Python. Two sketches spring to mind
immediately although I am not sure whether they were in the films or just
the TV series. One is the "argument" sketch where people pay to have an
argument. This develops into an argument about whether they are really
having an argument. The second is about a person who can  pronounce /k/ in
words beginning with the letter 'k' but not if they begin with 'c',  i,e,
'king' is possible but not 'college'.

Brian

*************************************
Brian Richards
Professor of Education
The University of Reading
School of Education
Bulmershe Court
Earley, Reading, RG6 1HY, UK
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Dale, Philip S." <DaleP at health.missouri.edu>
To: <info-childes at mail.talkbank.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 1:57 PM
Subject: films


A couple of years ago I posted a notice asking for suggestions for fiction
which had language as a focus, and I received many suggestions. As a
followup, I'd like to recommend very highly Mary Doria Russell's The
Sparrow, a science fiction novel in which language learning plays an
important role. It's also quite fascinating as a meditation on culture
contact and miscommunication, and on the nature of faith. The author is a
Ph.D. anthropologist.

My request this time is for film which has language as a focus. The two
which come mind immediately are My Fair Lady, and Nell. Are there any
others? I have a hazy memory of some bits in Monty Python movies, for
example. The treatment of language can be done well or badly; I'm interested
in film as a discussion starter.

Thanks in advance for your help, and I'll post a summary.

Philip S. Dale, Professor and Chair
Dept of Communication Science & Disorders
303 Lewis Hall
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, MO 65211
tel:   573-882-1934
fax:   573-884-8686
email: dalep at health.missouri.edu