To be able to spell obscure words or names of nuts is not some great accomplishment....
Sac, no-one knows how to spell every word. But if you get a word, have no clue how to spell it, but use a knowledge of spelling rules, other languages, intuition to spell it correctly, then that is indeed one heck of an accomplishment in some very fine thinking. My hat’s off to the young lady. Brava!
No, but spelling obscure and even foreign words helps one to spell other words or to sound out the spelling of more difficult words, such as foreign words used in English language or people’s names. There is no downside to being able to spell well. I can’t tell you how many marketing products I’ve seen at my company that are misspelled, exhibit poor grammar, etc. all on the first and second drafts. And some end up published that way.
Perhaps not, but would you like to know how many job applications I go over in a years time with multiple spelling errors? Being able to spell exceptionally well might not be a great accomplishment, but not being able to spell well at all is a great handicap.
I have two children at home who are 18 and 16. Living in Dallas, we have a sizable Asian and Indian population. I hate to say it, but an inordinate number of my children’s white friends are aspiring rock stars, an inordinate number of their black friends are aspiring sports figures, but their Asian and Indian friends have such unrealistic goals as becoming doctors and engineers. There really is a different mindset behind the academic success of Asians and Indians. It’s not racial, but cultural.
Yes it is. It demonstrates a facility and precision of mind that is easily transferrable to other disciplines. It is also a direct manifestation of diligence and hard work.
I know these kids. Not all of them are brilliant although I could name a goodly number who could bump Bobby Jindal to the short bus. Regardless of aptitude, they are all popping on all eight cylinders. They work, so much so that we are trying to restrain them. They have a tendency to be too narrowly focused and they are missing what I would call the sweep of the occidental mind.
That is no great leap. Once they make it we will see Jindals popping up all over the country.
So you’re a lousy speller, huh? One’s spelling prowess is indicative of their overall education/knowledge.
It's certainly not particularly useful for the average person, but neither are many other competitions. (Tax-chick, Virginia high school spelling champion, 1984. )
Please don't floccinaucinihilipilificate. Everything has its worth.