Uptown Rat

Facelikeapotato@lemmy.ml to Lemmy Shitpost@lemmy.world – 782 points –
22

This post has made me spend the last 20 minutes sounding out the word β€œgenetically” in my head to see if it should have four or five syllables. I think I might even pronounce it differently in different contexts.

I am a biologist, by the way.

I have decided it has 4.35 syllables.

I am a mathematical biologist.

The mathematical biologist

Had to consult a chronologist

Because he spent too much time

Trying to get genetically to rhyme

I am the very model of a scientist Salarian

lyrics = text you can hear

I wonder how many ancient texts were like this to the people that wrote them?

Many ancient texts (Iliad, Odyssey, Beowulf etc) started as an oral transmission and had a poetic meter to aid in memorisation.

Which is also why they are full of repetition, making them, in my opinion, much more tedious reads for stories that should be more engaging.

That's kind of the point.

They weren't created for you and me to read.

They were created to be performed. Reading them out loud helps but audiobooks of them are best.

Same with Shakespeare's plays. Reading them can be a slog for many people.

Watching them performed well is a joy.

I get that, but unfortunately that's not how it's usually taken in now. It's usually 'read this as part of the syllabus' in college and it's a slog, which is just too bad because the actual tales are great and I'm sure they're wonderful when read aloud by a skilled speaker (never been to a performance).

I understand.

Studying an oral work without seeing a performance or at least a recorded one is pretty ridiculous.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is true like Fr why does anyone willingly living in New York City especially now