Want to know more about tongue twisters

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Q. Tongue tied
A. Tongue twisters are a form of entertainment designed around the simple fact that languages are hard.

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Q. How did tongue twisters develop
A. Unlike the latest lab-tested consumer durable, languages evolve over many centuries. Those that are made up, like Esperanto, sound so awful and are so logical that only a small core group of zealots ever want to use them. No matter how tightly the language-police try to keep control over language specifications, we keep subverting things. We invent new words and generally corrupt the language by altering the meaning of words or adopting words from other languages.

These peculiarities at least leave room for some fun. All languages use mixtures of sounds, some that are easy to pronounce, some that are complex and some that are only difficult when combined with others.

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Q. And the fun
A. The fun of tongue twisters is in inventing strings and combinations of sounds that are hard to say in series. The tongue twister should be spoken as quickly as possible, preferably all in one breath. For added effect, the good ones are designed in such a way as to trip the tongue into saying bits of absurdity, or even outright vulgarity, instead of the intended phrase.

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So, a few well-known examples:

• She sells sea shells on the sea shore
• The sixth sick sheikh ate six sick sheep
• Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper, then where's the peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked
• I'm not the pheasant plucker, I'm the pheasant plucker's son, and I'll keep on plucking pheasants till the pheasant plucking's done

Q. They're not always just used for fun and games though, are they
A. No, tongue twisters are used extensively in speech therapy and for those taking elocution lessons.

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Q. And children
A. One of the most famous exponents of tongue twisters was Dr Seuss. Brilliant and playful, Dr Seuss charmed his way into the consciousness of four generations of youngsters and parents. In the process, he helped kids learn to read. The best example of this is Fox in Socks. 'This Fox is a tricky fox. He'll try to get your tongue in trouble,' said Dr Seuss, giving fair warning to anyone brave enough to read along. Fox in Socks likes to play tongue-twisting games with his victim, the hapless Mr. Knox:

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� Duck takes licks
� in lakes Luke Luck likes.
� Luke Luck takes licks
� in lakes duck likes.

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'Now is your tongue numb '

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Do you know any good tongue twisters Let us know

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For more on Phrases & Sayings click here

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By Simon Smith