Language School Blogger Fired for Writing About Homophones

[KamaAina]

http://gawker.com/language-school-blogger-fired-for-writing-about-homopho-1613916147

A social media specialist for a Utah language school that teaches English to non-native speakers says he was fired for writing a blog post about homophones—words that sound the same, but carry different meanings—because his boss was afraid readers would think it was about "gay sex."

Tim Torkildson told the Salt Lake Tribune that shortly after his lesson went up, Nomen Global Language Center owner Clarke Woodger fired him, complaining "now our school is going to be associated with homosexuality."

"I had to look up the word" Woodger said, according to the account Torkildson published on his personal blog, "because I didn't know what the hell you were talking about. We don't teach this kind of advanced stuff to our students, and it's extremely inappropriate. Can you have your desk cleaned out by eleven this morning? I'll have your check ready."...

"People at this level of English," Woodger told the Tribune, "may see the 'homo' side and think it has something to do with gay sex."

Let me see if I've got this straight. The owner of a language school had to look up the word 'homophone'.

[stevenleser]

1. Yet another case of "Teh stoopid, it burns." generally from right wingers. nt

[napkinz]

2. reminds me of an "All In The Family" episode ...

[stevenleser]

6. Oh god yes, this. Today's Republican grass roots have become Archie Bunker. nt

[avaistheone1]

9. So true.

[Warpy]

3. Pointy headed boss must be MBA

No learn about nothing but bottom line.

[redqueen]

4. ...

[catrose]

5. Had to look it up?

I learned it in third grade.

I guess you don't need language qualifications to own a language school. Or be a decent human being. Some bosses might have asked the writer to provide a definition in the article.

[MohRokTah]

7. I feel sorry for any immigrants unfortunate enough to choose that school to learn English.

It's absurd for a school teaching English as a second language to not understand what a homophone is.

[jmowreader]

17. Or worse, to think it's an advanced topic

I can just imagine if he'd have brought in a Dick and Jane book: "Boy, we don't use porn in OUR classrooms!"

[SwankyXomb]

8. They must be using this as their textbook

[Igel]

10. Argh.

Good thing the teacher didn't explain "homorganic" consonants.

I mean, he may have then mentioned "bilabials," and who knows where that would have led? Discussion of the uvula, no doubt. And even possibly on to ejectives! Or even ingressives!!

[tymorial]

11. Let the Picard facepalm describe our general disgust

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[KamaAina]

12. DUzy!

And welcome to DU!

[brooklynite]

13. Before chortling too much, remember Mayor Anthony Williams in Washington...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/williams/williams020499.htm

Liberals are not immune to linguistic over-reaction...

[KamaAina]

14. What's the matter?

Too chicken to say "niggardly"?

[tanyev]

15. Does he know he's a homosapien?

[KamaAina]

16. "Are you a homo?"

"No!"

"You're not a homo sapiens?"