Having been a teacher in public schools, I am appalled at the usage and abuses of our language. I speak three languages and daily hear our media announcers and newspersons abusing the correct way to pronounce words. For example, The city is Everett not Averate; Bellingham is not Balingham; Eligible is not Aligible; health is not halth.

I could go on for many other poor usages on the TV channels everywhere. Is this another instance of dumbing down America, or is it the lack of educators, not “aducators,” not being held to the Standards of Usage for the English language, not “anglish language.”

I realize that Spanish language speakers have different guides for the vowels and consonants, I taught ESL and learned as much as I taught. My experience leads me to appreciate how difficult our language is for non-English speakers to grasp! But with the obvious affectation being presented by public and supposedly educated media personnel in their daily programming, it is no wonder our children and adults being exposed to English language usage abuse is difficult for those trying to learn a new language.

As I am typing this letter, I just heard another mis-use with the word did’nt. It is not di-dent, with the stress on the wrong syllable. And the wide spread usage of “These ones here” makes me cringe. I recognize there are zonal dialects and accents but what are teachers teaching?

David B. Silliman

Camano Island