China Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Paul Rolly: Blogger fired from language school over ‘homophonia’ Homophones, as any English grammarian can tell you, are words that sound the same but have different meanings and often different spellings — such as be and bee, through and threw, which and witch, their and there. This concept is taught early on to foreign students learning English because it can be confusing to someone whose native language does not have that feature. But when the social-media specialist for a private Provo-based English language learning center wrote a blog explaining homophones, he was let go for creating the perception that the school promoted a gay agenda. Tim Torkildson says after he wrote the blog on the website of his employer, Nomen Global Language Center, his boss and Nomen owner Clarke Woodger, called him into his office and told him he was fired. As Torkildson tells it, Woodger said he could not trust him and that the blog about homophones was the last straw. "Now our school is going to be associated with homosexuality," Woodger complained, according to Torkildson, who posted the exchange on his Facebook page. Click on the link for the full article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo-toni Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Reminds me of the government official back in the 90s who got fired for describing a portion of a budget as niggardly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bang Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Bowing to the stupid. Always a fine plan. ~Bang Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky21 Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Yep I immediately thought of the niggardly comment as well. The boss sounds like a dummy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PiLfan Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Wait, so a homophone isn't a gay phone? I'm confused... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAVEONTHEWARPATH93 Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Literally one of the most terrifying articles I've read Too much stupid in positions of authority Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 "Now our school is going to be associated with homosexuality," Woodger complained, according to Torkildson, who posted the exchange on his Facebook page. I've got five bucks that says otherwise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo-toni Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Wait, so a homophone isn't a gay phone? I'm confused... Yes it is. You can identify it by its purple color and Cher ringtones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slateman Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Reminds me of the government official back in the 90s who got fired for describing a portion of a budget as niggardly. Wasnt it one of Barry's aides? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mad Mike Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Layers upon layers of stupidity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s0crates Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 I immediately thought of the famed "niggardly" incident too. I wonder if there is more to this story. Maybe I underestimate people's stupidity, but I doubt anybody is that stupid. The meaning of the Latin prefix "homo" should be familiar to most educated English speakers, it certainly should be to somebody in charge of English teachers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo-toni Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Wasnt it one of Barry's aides?I think so. My memory is that it happened during negotiations with Congress to send more federal funds to keep the district afloat. I think the guy was actually a congressional aide who was the liaison to Barry.Edit: Ok I had to know, so it turns out it was an aide to mayor Williams. I miss having a great memory....old age sucks. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/williams/williams020499.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DallasCowboyFan156 Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 I fully expected to be directed to the onion after clicking on that link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corcaigh Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 Biology class at the school will be interesting when discussion turns to homo erectus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted July 31, 2014 Share Posted July 31, 2014 We're all still okay watching thespians though right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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