What is Cot Ei Ghoti?!?

We started the infamous Phonetics class and love it! Nicole is doing really well in her pronunciations (her Spanish upbringing is coming into play now), and my (Seth) hearing/comprehension is pretty good.  So let me break down “cot ei ghoti” for you (incase you were wondering).

Cot- Most English speakers do not distinguish a difference in “cot” (something you sleep on), and “caught” (as in to catch something). English pronunciation, as you very well may know, is very inconsistent in its pronunciations.

Next, “ei”, is the middle vowels of “weigh”, which makes it sound like an English “a”.

Finally:

Gh- at the end of  “ laugh”; makes the “f” sound

o- in “women”, the “o” sounds like an “i” sound

ti- in the word “nation”, makes an “sh” sound

Put them all together and that makes f-i-sh… so last week Nicole “caught a fish”, or thanks to English inconsistencies, Nicole “cot ei ghoti”. Fun isn’t it? 🙂

Phonetics is a class that enables one to understand the sounds that come out of the human mouth, from a vowel, to a consonant. The only difference in making them is whether or not you constrict the air… even then, if you partially restrict the air, it might be a semi-vowel. Phonetics has its own alphabet, ascribing a letter/symbol to each sound that comes through the mouth (or doesn’t), through the nose, and vibrating through the vocal cords. What?! That’s crazy you say! But it’s not. One of our teachers likens it to being under water, and each day he gives us new Ping-Pong balls that he wants us to hold under water. Each day is a new ball, a new facet, and new sound. We have to have big hands, focus, and hold our breath!

God is great and powerful, wise beyond our comprehension. When God “confounded” the languages… (as my teacher says), He did a GREAT JOB! But also, our God created the mouth and everything to do with it. He is merciful, a God of order, and has said that He is working before our path in which we will take. I believe that one of those ways He is working is in the human mouth, He has made it possible for ANYONE to learn ANY language because all tribes will be before the throne of God, as it says in Revelation 5. We can rest in this promise and that He will perform this good work in and through us! His Bride!