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Canadians lose spelling bee again :-(


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A glance at the list of finalists at the 81st annual bee revealed another surprise: No Canadians.

 

All seven representatives from north of the border were vanquished in a span of about 20-minutes in the first semifinal round. No Canadian has ever won the bee, but the country always fields a strong contingent. Nate Gartke of Alberta was last year's runner-up.

 

"Seven up, seven down," said Pam Penny of Ancaster, Ontario. "Very disappointing. Especially for Canadians to go down on French words."

 

Penny's daughter, 10-year-old Veronica, was eliminated on the French-rooted word "etagere." Veronica's unusual mannerism of burying her head in hands while concentrating made her a fan favorite during Thursday's rounds, but this time the look of despair was for real as she failed to add the extra "e'' on the word that describes a cabinet with open shelves.

 

James Fenton, director of the spelling bee, remarked: "Strangely enough, Canadians often seem to be eliminated by simple words such as 'flavor,' 'theater,' or 'judgment.'"

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Guest ncm2169

Ah, Spelling Bees. Bad memories. x(

 

I discovered in grade school that I was a good speller. I pride myself on that to this day, and have started a couple threads on this Board mocking escorts' spelling. My favorite was one escort's ad in which he bragged that he was "well in doubt."

 

Back to grade school in the '50's. Teachers then liked to have the boys face off against the girls. It was my fifth grade class. I took my place among the boys and eventually we boys got whittled down to just me against 7 girls. One of those girls was a poster girl for "cunt" who had been my nemesis since 3rd Grade. She glowered at me and I did the same back. The stage was set. The word was "athlete." I went first. I spelled it, "athelete." The bitch, Robin, laughed out loud and I was humiliated when I lost.

 

My consolation came a few hours later when I was walking home and, seriously, found her brother stuffed upside down in a trash barrel, yelling for help. I walked past, thought better of it, and sought help for him.

 

:*

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>

>James Fenton, director of the spelling bee, remarked:

>"Strangely enough, Canadians often seem to be eliminated

>by simple words such as 'flavor,' 'theater,' or

>'judgment.'"

>

These may be simple words but in Canada they are spelt the British way (who, after all, invented English) which is flavour, theatre, and judgement. Just as we spell center, centre, color, colour, well you get it. I remember spelling one of these words the American way in elementary school, where I was a good speller (still am) and getting marked down for it by the teacher.

 

If this contest were held in Canada or Britain, it would be the American students who would be eliminated on such words.

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>James Fenton, director of the spelling bee, remarked:

>"Strangely enough, Canadians often seem to be eliminated

>by simple words such as 'flavor,' 'theater,' or

>'judgment.'"

>

 

 

When I read this--my 1st thought was--I didn't know there were Canadians in the National Spelling Bee. How long has this been going on--or have they always competed? My second thought was that obviously many of thses simple words are spelled differently in British English--but wouldn't you think that the director of the National Spelling Bee would know that? Also if they are going to allow Canadians in--wouldn't you think that spellings like

"f-l-a-v-o-u-r" should be allowed as an alternate spelling?

 

Gman

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Confession!! I made that last sentence up! }( }( I wondered if anyone would catch it. I really don't think they give Canadians words which are simply spelled differently there. But the thought occurred to me as I read the article, which stated that Canadians had never won the spelling bee: "Hey, don't they spell things differently there? Maybe that's why they never won!" It would be an easy way to eliminate our friends from up North, though... :+ :+ :+

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>

I didn't know there

>were Canadians in the National Spelling Bee. How long has

>this been going on--or have they always competed? >

>Gman

 

Sort of like Americans playing in the National Hockey League. How long have we allowed this? :o

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