Many years ago I was born in the small Alabama town of Phenix City. At that time and place, a newborn baby was apparently not given a very thorough exam. The baby’s gender was noted for the first time, and a quick check was made to see if arms, legs, fingers and toes were in tact. Apparently examining the mouth was not part of the process.
I was born with a genetic mutation that is commonly called a “tongue tie” (ankyloglossia) in which a band of tissue (lingual frenulum) limits movement of the tongue.
The above image was altered slightly by me to lighten the shadows.
My family noticed that as I got older I never got past the “baby talk” phase and took me to our doctor for an examination. He quickly diagnosed the problem and did a simple procedure of cutting the restrictive tissue with surgical scissors.
Although my tongue could now move freely there was little improvement in my speech. I had learned to speak a certain way that was too deeply ingrained to be easily changed.
A few years later I entered first grade in Columbus Ga. at the 49th street public school and my teacher noticed my problem and sent me to the resident speech therapist.
I don’t remember much from that period except I had to say words over and over until I finally got it right. I had the most trouble with “Soldier” and “Shoulder”.
One consequence of this therapy was I never developed the rich South Carolina accent of my family.
Whenever I met new kids in Alabama they thought I was a “Yankee”. During a visit to Illinois the kids there commented about my “southern accent”.
No matter where I was people assumed I was from somewhere else.
It wasn’t just a case of northern vs southern American accent. In an Ecuadorian airport an Israeli backpacker asked me what country I was from and I replied “the United States”. To my surprise he said he knew people from the US. and I could not be from there. He decided I was a Canadian and dismissed my assertion that I was from any where else.
It no longer bothers me that I have an unidentifiable accent, I’m just thankful that I can speak at all.
I am very grateful to the speech therapist who helped me so many years ago.
Regards,
Jim