Dyslexia

[Vagabond]

Rather than hijack the original thread, which started as a query about fishing, I submit the following link.

http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/news17.html

 

There may be "myths" about dyslexia, but the problem with spelling is real enough.

 

When at primary school, I sat next to a boy who could not spell his name at age 10. Having the first name "Christopher" did not help, and his surname was not phonetic either.

 

The headmaster took it upon himself to "teach" this lad how to spell. Each morning the Head came to Christopher's desk and asked him to spell his name. As soon as a mistake was made, Christopher got his head smacked, and the exercise was postponed until the next day. Another day, another head-smack, another postponement.

 

On one occasion Christopher got as far as his surname, but alas, came to grief on that. The next morning he failed on "Christopher" as usual. Some mornings I tried to help Chris by mouthing the letters or surreptitiously tracing with a finger. Those mornings we both got our heads smacked.

 

Even at age ten, I had nothing but contempt for this "teacher"

 

I regret to note there are AN posters with similar outlooks.

 

 

I know of a number of anglers who were poor readers/writers but improved as a result of communicating about angling. One went on to become a well known writer for the angling press, so much so that he earned his living thereby.

 

So, a bit of slack for poor spellers, please.

[barry luxton]

I have no problem in saying that i use a dictionary on a frequent basis. I also have a son who has great impediment with his speach etc, so i am aware of the problems associated with dyslexia etc. I am also aware that some of these guys and gals are most bright in any event. More power to them. As for people who wish to criticise them for a minor infraction, shame on them, toss@rs.

[wayne baker]

I agree. Im not the greatest speller in the world. When i was younger i was terrible at school i never used punctuation or anything. It wasnt until i got older and started useing pcs and office with spell check that i got a lot better. I think as long as you know what word was meant by he poster theres no need for any snyd remarks

[barry luxton]

I agree. Im not the greatest speller in the world. When i was younger i was terrible at school i never used punctuation or anything. It wasnt until i got older and started useing pcs and office with spell check that i got a lot better. I think as long as you know what word was meant by he poster theres no need for any snyd remarks

 

 

Tut tut, you missed a 't ' out .

 

Didn't mean it, who cares as long as the messege gets across.

[Ken L]

Having done 18 months of remedial education when in primary school, back in the days before dyslexia was a common label, I do have time for people who have difficulty with the written word.

I tend to agree that bad spelling and in particular transposition of certain letters are indicative of what is now called dyslexia and that this is not necessarily linked to any sort of cognitive impairment.

 

After years of dealing with the written word at work, I rarely have a problem these days, but if I’m tired, the dodgy spelling and the letter transposition starts to creep out again. Having just done a nine hour day, I have just had to go back and correct “dad spelling” to read “bad spelling” because I’d used a d instead of a b – something that I even do occasionally when writing longhand.

 

I do remember the old descriptions of dyslexia as “word blindness” and of the sufferer “seeing the letters on the page all jumbled up” and I never could understand that. I for one never had any difficulty with reading and so always (probably erroneously) rejected the “dyslexic” label.

 

Of course there are a lot of people out there who label themselves as dyslexic when in fact they are just not very bright or are bright but for whatever reason are just poorly educated. These folks aren’t dyslexic and are often appallingly bad when it comes to spelling and grammar but so long as they can get their point across, what right does anyone have to exclude them from a community such as this one by ridiculing them ?

 

There are some difficulties with written language that can’t be tolerated though. There is just no excuse for text speak on forums because it’s just plain lazy.

[Huge_Vitae]

There are some difficulties with written language that can’t be tolerated though. There is just no excuse for text speak on forums because it’s just plain lazy.

roxxor, m8

 

Me fail English, that's unpossible.

 

I have 'number blindness' if you give me the simplest sum I can do it ten times with ten different answers.

 

It was always said that to correct another's grammar was bad manners but sometimes I think we can all learn, but it is the way you do it. When I was raising my nippers, I was always told to repeat an incorrect phrase back to them but not in a correction type of manner.

 

Sometimes you have to remember that grammar is linked to accent. Here, were is used frequently in place of was. You also have to remember the sticky keyboard syndrome 'like what I got' (also acceptable local speak.

 

last week I was at a Supermarket, one of the checkout girls says to the other "It was a lot more busier last week." at which I smiled at her, she asked why I was smiling, in a friendly way and I told her, we had a laugh about it and all was well.

 

I had a friend who's entire male ancestry could not read or write. The 'new' teacher at the School, later to become headmistress decided to teach him and was rebuked, and told 'nobody has ever taught a male <<surname>> to read or write', that was the rule which she broke and led a path for others.

[five bellies]

Having done 18 months of remedial education when in primary school, back in the days before dyslexia was a common label, I do have time for people who have difficulty with the written word.

I tend to agree that bad spelling and in particular transposition of certain letters are indicative of what is now called dyslexia and that this is not necessarily linked to any sort of cognitive impairment.

 

After years of dealing with the written word at work, I rarely have a problem these days, but if I’m tired, the dodgy spelling and the letter transposition starts to creep out again. Having just done a nine hour day, I have just had to go back and correct “dad spelling” to read “bad spelling” because I’d used a d instead of a b – something that I even do occasionally when writing longhand.

 

I do remember the old descriptions of dyslexia as “word blindness” and of the sufferer “seeing the letters on the page all jumbled up” and I never could understand that. I for one never had any difficulty with reading and so always (probably erroneously) rejected the “dyslexic” label.

 

Of course there are a lot of people out there who label themselves as dyslexic when in fact they are just not very bright or are bright but for whatever reason are just poorly educated. These folks aren’t dyslexic and are often appallingly bad when it comes to spelling and grammar but so long as they can get their point across, what right does anyone have to exclude them from a community such as this one by ridiculing them ?

 

There are some difficulties with written language that can’t be tolerated though. There is just no excuse for text speak on forums because it’s just plain lazy.

 

 

I can identify with most of that post Ken. Up untill my late teens my hand writing was unintelligable, A work collaegue and good freind who was allso an amature calligrapher spent many a night shift helping with my hand writing, I now write quite neatly and have been complemented on my script but the spelling is still dreadfull.I have on here had poeple pass comment about it before I just laugh it off but it is a bit hurtfull.I dont think poeple realise this when they pass comment. Text speak posts should be deleated along with an explaination as to why!

Edited November 26, 2008 by five bellies

[Steve Burke]

FB, even though your spelling isn't perfect I can always understand what you're writing, and that's all that matters. Most of all though you come up with a lot of interesting points!

[Chris Goddard]

Have to say I am a pretty good speller myself. AND it does wind me up about others spelling, but that is it!! I would never (Again pull anyone about it!) But there is a spell checker available for my browser (Firefox) and I use it myself as I type too fast and make mistakes!

 

Once saw something which really surprised me though, it was a story where certain letters were missed out and yet the story was quite easy to read IF you read it. Just looking was horrible as it was as jumble of letters and made NO sense whatsoever! But it read very well!

 

But GRAMMAR!! And PUNCTUATION?? I am CRAP at!

[five bellies]

FB, even though your spelling isn't perfect I can always understand what you're writing, and that's all that matters. Most of all though you come up with a lot of interesting points!

 

 

Thank you Steve