Tuesday, February 26, 2013

It's That Vowel That Thows Us Off

Image from health.com

I was trying to explain to the Murph tonight that my friend has decided to get a C-Peel.  He got confused and thought I meant she was taking a vitamin C pill.  After a few minutes of trying to get him to understand C-Peel instead of her usual microdermabrasion, not the vitamin, he finally understood what I was saying.  Our conversation sounded somewhat like the Abbott and Costello skit (who's on first).

Image from drugstore.com

Me:  My friend is going to get a C-Peel.

Murph:   A pill.  She's taking a vitamin C pill.

Me:  No, she's getting a peel.

Murph:  What kind of pill?

Me:  A C-Peel.

Murph:  But you said she wasn't getting a C pill and now you are saying she is.

Me:  She's getting a C-PEEL.    PEEL not PILL!

Murph:  Wait, how do you say pill like a vitamin pill you take.

Me:  Pill.

Murph:  Okay, now how do you say peel like your getting a peel instead of microdermabrasion.

Me:  Peel.

Murph:  (laughing and shaking his head)  Now I get it.  You pronounce those two words the exact same way and you add and extra syllable to both words.  Listen to me and see if you can tell a difference in the way I say the two words.  1.  I have a headache so I am going to take a PILL.  2.  I am going to the spa to get a C-PEEL.  Can you tell the difference?

Me:  Sure.  I can tell a difference.  Can't you tell the difference when I say them.  1.  I am going to take a PILL.  2.  I am going to get a C-Peel.  There!  See the difference?

Murph:  (Laughing and shaking his head)  It's okay.  That's one of the reasons you are so charming.

Wait!  Is that a Yankee way of saying, "Bless your heart"?

Pill or Peel.  Correct Southern pronunciation for both  =  /pi /ul/

6 comments:

  1. I didn't know that you had an accent, but I guess I do too. Peel and pill are two different words up here though. But what is a c peel anyway?

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    1. I've never had one but it's a facial treatment that exfoliates the top layer of skin and brightens and evens out skin tone. Like a chemical peel. It may be the same thing but I'm not sure.

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  2. I'm glad I ran across this post. A C-peel sounds like something I need to do for spring . . .


    oxoxoxox from San francisco
    Amy
    http://bridechic.blogspot.com

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    1. I'm thinking about doing it too. I've never had a Peel, only microdermasion, but my husband has gotten peels. He liked them.

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  3. Ha! Priceless.
    It's a chemical peel but the C is often called an organic peel, depending on products used. Estheticians aren't using the phrase chemical peel as much now, as it sounds a bit scary.
    Now I'm wondering...I probably say pill and peel the same or close. It's that Bama accent!

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    1. I guess the Murph had me thrown and I was thinking the C stood for Vit C; instead the C is just short for chemical. I did see online that there were some peels that included vit C. My medi spa doesn't have one, but they do have an Oxy peel that looks interesting... I want one now!

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