Illiterate sailors? Say it ain't so...

[mherrcat]

Came across what looks like an interesting book while searching for something on the web.

http://books.google.com/books?id=g7Jd_o6_s90C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Seamanship+in+the+age+of+sail&hl=en&ei=FDeaTJnIOY2osQPokfCpAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

I thought this excerpt was humorous:

“It may be however, that nowadays oral tradition is diminishing in importance. It is a little startling to hear American sailors pronouncing ‘boatswain’ exactly as spelled, but I am sure this alternative to ‘bo’sun’ reflects the fact that new entries into the United States Navy are totally illiterate before entering the service.”

Hopefully they are more literate when they leave the service?

You say po-tay-to, I say po-tah-to…

 

[Blue Chip]

Not humorous....sad. I just watched a candidate for US Senate on a taped commercial use the word "irregardless". No one on the staff either A..caught that...or B...cared. The second choice scares me.

 

[missalot]

Came across what looks like an interesting book while searching for something on the web.

http://books.google.com/books?id=g7Jd_o6_s90C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Seamanship+in+the+age+of+sail&hl=en&ei=FDeaTJnIOY2osQPokfCpAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCsQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false

I thought this excerpt was humorous:

“It may be however, that nowadays oral tradition is diminishing in importance. It is a little startling to hear American sailors pronouncing ‘boatswain’ exactly as spelled, but I am sure this alternative to ‘bo’sun’ reflects the fact that new entries into the United States Navy are totally illiterate before entering the service.”

Hopefully they are more literate when they leave the service?

You say po-tay-to, I say po-tah-to…

I say spud!