People get their tangs all tongueled up

I heard some mispronunciations while watching church services on the telly recently, and I would like to pass them on to you. Not only would I like to, I am going to whether you want me to or not.

I heard a preacher say "DeuterOMONY" instead of "DeuterONOMY". I thought, "What?"

I heard a different preacher say "VietMANese" instead of "VietNAMese". Ditto.

Such errors jar the ears of careful listeners, but I think the effect is worse when a preacher makes them, because it brings into question everything else of a spiritual nature that the preacher is trying to persuade his congregation to accept.

The mind, aided by the the seemingly ever-present enemy of the soul, immediately thinks, "Well, if he can't even get that right, can I trust him on the weightier matters, things of a spiritual nature?" At leas, that is where my mind goes. Confession is good for the soul, I've heard.

Maybe I'm being overly critical (ya think?). Maybe it's just another opportunity for EGR (where Extra Grace is Required).

Let us now pivot to another subject.

I used to think people who spoke in tongues were speaking gibberish. Then I learned of a musical group called Ladysmith Black Mombazo, who sang with Paul Simon on his Graceland album back in 1986. You may remember Paul Simon, the fellow who teamed up with Art Garfunkel -- Simon and Garfunkel -- on such hits as "The Sound Of Silence" and "Bridge Over Troubled Water". The founder of Ladysmith Black Mombazo was Joseph Shabalala, and as recently as May 2026 the members of Ladysmith Black Mombazo, which is still going strong, include Mfanafuthi Dlamini, Thamsanqa Shabalala, Sibongiseni Shabalala, Sabelo Mthembu, Thulani Shabalala, Gagamela Shabalala, and Msizi Shabalala, according to Wikipedia.

When you say their names you are speaking in tongues and the language is Zulu. The point I'm trying to make is that if you should ever find yourself in a Pentecostal worship service and hear someone speak in a tongue that is filled with repetetive syllables, it is not necessarily an indication that the tongue is gibberish. Perhaps it is not even a human language but an angelic one, as Saint Paul told the Corinthians that there are such things, beginning Chapter 13 of his letter to them with the words, "Though I speak with the tongues of me and of angels and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal" (except that he wrote it in Greek, of course).

Or maybe their tangs are all tongueled up. Or maybe their tongues get in the way of their eye teeth and they can't see what they are saying.

Okay, I'm reaching now.

It must be time to close this post.

If you don't understand this post at all, why should this post be any different from all the others?

T.T.F.N.

P.S. - For a fascinating look at the languages of this world in a post from 2010, even though the figures on the number of people who speak them are now 16 years out of date, click here .

All is not quiet on the Western front

While you have been waking and sleeping and going about your daily routine, things have been happening on the Western front, which is what I have decided to call that portion of Rhymeswithplague Land that lies outside the blog.

For instance, and you already knw this, our fourth great-grandchild was born earlier this month. His parents named him Shepherd. We were already aware, but I don't think I had said it on the blog, that a fifth and, yes, even a sixth great-grandchild are, how you say, in the oven, waiting to make their appearances later this year.

Well, lo and behold, we have now learned that a seventh great-grandchild is due in January.

Our family is growing by leaps and bounds. The last of our six grandchildren, and the only girl in the lot, is getting married this summer to a very nice young man named Ryan. At the beginning of 2026 our extended family, including spouses, consisted of 19 adults and three children, a total of 22 souls in all if my math skills haven't atrophied. By January 2027 our family will consist, God willing, of 20 adults and seven children, a total of 27 souls.

Our grandsons seem to have married girls who are, you should pardon the expression, fertile Myrtles, and the virility of the boys is not in doubt.

I know there are lots of families that are larger than ours. One couple we know are expecting their 18th grandchild any day now. Our numbers pale by comparison, but both Mrs. Rhymeswithplague (the lovely Ellie) and I continue to be amazed and thankful as we see our family expanding. What started with just the two of us now includes our three children and their spouses, our six grandchildren and their spouses (I'm including Ryan), and 'twill soon be seven great-grandchildren. The first four greats are all boys. I'm hoping to see some girls in there too.

No wonder we keep on smiling. We are blessed.

On Sundays at the Anguish Languish Church

...day lack two zing D alt him Inner Guardian firm dare Anguish Languish Him Null:

1. Eye gum Tudor guardian a loan
Wild adieu Estelle under hoses
Under boy sigh here fall anon my year
This sunup goddess glows is.

Re-frame:

Handy wok swim me, handy dock swim me
Handy tills me eye yam a zone
Under choice wee chairs weak adder dare
Nun udder as Severn own.

2. His peeks under sand office boys
His sew Swede a burrs usher zinging
Under malady daddy cave tomb E
Width Emma hard dish wringing.

(Reap eat re-frame: "Handy wok swim me" etc.)

Well, enough of that. I couldn't resist the urge.

Meanwhile, the world continues apace.

Perhaps you noticed.

Cease-fires come and cease-fires go, but Iran drones on forever.

I couldn't resist that either.

Perhaps it is best that I bring this post to a close and go lie down for a while.

Yes, that is a good idea, a very good idea indeed.

I am not crazy. I am just giddy today for two very good reasons. First, although our Magic Chef countertop microwave oven gave up the ghost yesterday causing no end of consternation, we have already replaced it with a brand new Cuisinart countertop microwave oven purchased at Tar-zhay, so eating can continue at our house. Second, and most importantly, last night around 11 p.m. our fourth great-grandson was born! He arrived 11 days before he was expected to make his initial appearance among us but he weighed in at a healthy 6 lbs, 10 oz.

That's enough to make anybody giddy.

Ta-Ta for now.