Little Johnny, the curious seventh-grader, was known for his inquisitive nature. He never shied away from asking questions, especially to his teachers. One day, during an English class, he brought up a peculiar doubt.
He raised his hand and asked his teacher, “Why do we ignore some letters in pronunciation, like the letter H in words like Hour and Honour?”
His English teacher smiled and explained, “We are not actually ignoring those letters, Johnny. They are considered silent.”
This response left Johnny even more confused. How could a letter be there but not be pronounced?
Later, during lunch break, his teacher gave him her packed lunch and asked Johnny to heat it in the cafeteria. Little Johnny diligently followed her instructions and heated the food. However, he ate all the food and returned the empty container to his teacher.
Surprised, his teacher exclaimed, “What happened? I told you to go and HEAT my food, and you are returning an empty container!”
With an innocent smile, Little Johnny replied, “Madam, I thought ‘H’ was silent.”
This light-hearted anecdote reminds us of the humor that language can bring. It’s dedicated to all the dedicated English teachers who patiently answer all the curious questions they receive.
