Language barrier: Rhiannon Brooksbank-Jones, from Nottingham, had her tongue lengthened by 1cm to help her pronounce Korean words
Posted on 08/12/2011 2:07:51 AM PDT by Stoat
Student Rhiannon Brooksbank-Jones dreams of living and working in South Korea once she finishes university, even though she has never visited the country.
But while taking language lessons, the 19-year-old found that she couldn't pronounce certain crucial sounds in the Korean alphabet.
Her dentist suggested it may be because she was born with a slightly shorter than average tongue, caused by having an unusually thick lingual frenulum - the flap of skin that joins the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth.
Language barrier: Rhiannon Brooksbank-Jones, from Nottingham, had her tongue lengthened by 1cm to help her pronounce Korean words
After discussing the matter with her parents and language tutor, Rhiannon decided to undergo an operation to correct the condition, despite the fact it has never caused her any problems in speaking English.
She underwent a lingual frenectomy, which involves making an incision in the flap of skin. As a result, Rhiannon's tongue is now about 1cm longer, and she can say words that were impossible before.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I’ve known several people in my life who’ve had their “Frens” snipped. Some people are thought to be “tongue tied” due to the “Frens” being extended to far towards the tip of the tongue. (Frens lingua)
Now, why or how would those conversations ever come up? LOL When I was a kid, my Brother talked me into putting my tongue on a frozen metal flag pole. Then, after I had been crying for a minute or so, he “helped” me pull it free. (bastage!) My “Fren” got stuck between my lower teeth and ripped. Now my tongue appears to be much longer and, I often (even at my old age) accidentally bite it. Oh, could I tell you some stories-like the time I bit it at a Taco Bell and they called 911. lol
Wouldn’t it have been cheaper to just knock her teeth back?
Seriesly, the procedure described sounds extremely minor. The Daily Mail must be tired of covering the riots.
With frens like this...
So you can
<marty_feldman>
</marty_feldman>
Reminds me of a stand up routine by comedian Bobby Collins;
"So I'm on an airline flight from New York to LA. I was given a bag of peanuts by the stewardess. I was very hungry so I devoured them. In my haste, I bit my tongue....really bad. The pain was so excruciating that I rose from my seat and start 'dancing' in the aisle.
Another stewardess approached me and asked, "Is something wrong sir?"
I had tears in my eyes when I replied as best I could, "Ah bibbed by tunnnn!"
She looked at me for a moment and then said, "I didn't get that."
I tried again, "I...bibbed...by...tunn!"
"Ohhhhh.." she said and turned to the rest of the passengers and said, "Does anyone speak Spanish?"
An older gentleman raised his hand, stood and approached the stewardess.
"Eez dere a problemo, miss?" he said.
She said, "Yes, this man is trying to tell me something and I can't understand him."
The man turns to me and says, in Spanish "What is the problem?"
Still with tears rolling down my cheeks, I try again, "I bibbed by tunn!!"
The Spanish gentleman turns to the stewardess in frustration and says, "I cannot help you. Deez man is speaking French!"
What’s more rock ‘n’ roll than a guy who can preen his eyebrows with his tongue?
(groan)
About 50/50 each way. Seriously, thanks for the tip.
Autodetect is so sensitive that sometimes it detects HTML you haven’t even written.
My pleasure, sweetie.
It’s so sensitive that sometimes it gets confused.
I’d hit that.
UNNNGH!
Must be a liberal.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
