Pearson: Spellbound — Confessions of long-time spelling bee pronouncer

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The Super Bowl of spelling bees makes you assume rather a lot about phrases and letters. And life.

After 19 years of serving because the pronouncer for the WFCU Scripps Regional Spelling Bee — which began because the Canwest, then Postmedia, spelling bee twenty years in the past — I had the honour of attending the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C., in May.

The Windsor bee sends a winner to the large spell-off, reminiscent of Isaac Brogan, the 12-year-old sixth-grader who received the final two Windsor regional bees. But this 12 months, my flip additionally got here: I received the Scripps Regional Spelling Bee Volunteer of the Year for North America.

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After a lot time tackling correct pronunciation, elevating the award just like the Stanley Cup on stage amid the excitement of the biggest spelldown on the planet felt nice. And humbling.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee, the top of English aggressive spelling, appears one way or the other larger in individual, even after watching it on TV (it attracts greater than 9 million viewers on the Scripps channel ION).

It takes a small military to run so effectively — about 250 folks assist stage the occasion, whereas maybe one other 100 Scripps staff participate in a method or one other. That’s not counting the 240-plus spellers and their members of the family, many carrying T-shirts like Spellbound, Bee Yourself and Word Nerd. The Scripps National Spelling Bee turns 100 subsequent 12 months.

And the spelling? A-W-E-S-O-M-E!

This 12 months’s winner, Bruhat Soma, 12, from St. Petersburg, Florida, received after solely the second-ever spell-off for the reason that competitors started in 1925. He spelled a dizzying 29 phrases accurately in 90 seconds to take the trophy. And $50,000 in money, plus different prizes. And the glory.

As the strain rose within the finale, long-time Scripps pronouncer Dr. Jacques Bailly — a kind of literary superhero — calmly and clearly stated a flurry of phrases. Many I had by no means heard earlier than (a pair even stumped my spell-check): myrabalanus, sciniph, voussoir, caixinha, ramoneur, aposiopesis, abseil.

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I used to be … flabbergasted.

Soma simply let the letters fly. Then, got here the confetti.

Determined spellers examine years to compete on the prime degree. First-timers not often make the ultimate of the celebrated occasion which accepts spellers aged eight to fifteen who haven’t handed Grade 8.

Coaches work with opponents — who should learn avidly to succeed — on many issues, reminiscent of guidelines, technique, committing phrases to reminiscence, learning prefixes, suffixes, and international languages and understanding how definitions present hints on phrase spelling.

They should additionally study to hurdle one thing referred to as schwa, also called the mid central vowel, a very dangerous idea for prime spellers. Schwa marks the commonplace sound of uh — a lazy utterance that enables the lips and tongue to put again and do nothing — represented at occasions by any vowel, as in sofa, elephant, animal, carrot, butter, syringe, and so on. Even no vowel can generally sound like schwa, as in rhythm (between the “th” and “m”). A contact troublesome.

Mostly, spelling on the prime degree requires regular nerves and much of examine, clearly.

But much less apparent: so does saying, its personal efficiency artwork.

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I begin learning weeks earlier than the competitors, first re-familiarizing myself with the tiny however demanding diacritic markings that point out correct pronunciation.

I then learn over the Scripps glossary for that 12 months, many occasions, specializing in pronunciations and alternate pronunciations, but in addition going over root-word info and sentences by which the phrases are used to ensure all the pieces flows effectively in competitors, an all-afternoon affair.

It sounds simple. Read a phrase. Big whoop. In observe, nevertheless, it might show tough. In truth, sometimes downright devious.

Over twenty years of saying at a regional spelling bee, within the warmth of the second, I’ve made each mistake within the e-book.

I’ve came upon the pattern sentence. Forgot to say there’s a homonym. Read the incorrect definition. Moved too far forward within the glossary (which the foundations enable), solely to have all remaining opponents wrestle. Felt harassed. Coughed on the incorrect time. Pronounced a phrase I had already stated. Said the phrase too shortly or too slowly. And offered a questionable pronunciation.

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Perhaps all pronouncers make these errors at one time or one other in the event that they play the sport lengthy sufficient.

That stated, I prefer to assume I’ve blundered solely not often, and more and more much less usually as I gained expertise. I additionally imagine I usually assist spellers really feel relaxed, learn easily, and supply a practised confidence in saying phrase after phrase.

When a speller drops out, saying is the primary factor a household may problem, one thing that lurks within the again of my thoughts like a ghost. One time a spelling bee volunteer heard a father say to his spouse when their child misspelled, “Challenge it.” The spouse stated, “On what?” The husband responded: “Anything!”

I’m proud to say, nevertheless, after critiques, judges all the time determined I pronounced accurately.

The factor is, moreover learning forward of time, saying effectively requires focus for hours in a row underneath the warmth of stage lights in entrance of an viewers. Even when a speller finishes, the pronouncer doesn’t get a break, since you need to transfer instantly to the following phrase whereas the following speller approaches to make sure the right pronunciation (together with alternate pronunciations) sticks in your head.

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Some phrases I got here to understand are pronounced in another way than I assumed my entire life.

One state of affairs that gives specific nervousness for a pronouncer: a speller asking to listen to the pronunciation — and alternate pronunciations — again and again. Have you ever observed that generally whenever you say a phrase repeatedly it begins to one way or the other lose its which means? Strange phenomenon. You begin questioning for those who’re listening to the phrase correctly. Or saying it correctly.

Now do it repeatedly in a big theatre in entrance of a crowd rooting for little Johnny on the large day and the issue balloons.

One small mercy: not less than it’s the top decide who has to ring the bell for misspellings, which generally causes misery to the teenager. To me, too.

But overcoming adversity is the essence to rising and succeeding and feeling accomplishment, which the spellers additionally study. Former high-level spellers have a tendency to guide profitable skilled lives, in accordance with James Maguire, who adopted years of spellers for his 2006 e-book, American Bee.

Pronouncers need each speller to spell accurately. Impossible, of course. Still, those who advance more and more impress the viewers and, sure, the pronouncer.

I prefer to say that spelling bees ought to spell merely F-U-N.

After 19 years of saying on the regional spelling bee, I confess — I’m a proud phrase nerd.

cpearson@postmedia.com

Craig Pearson is The Windsor Star’s managing editor, a long-time information journalist — and a often right speller of phrases.

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