Language journal

I know this is supposed to be a blog about gardens, but I think I'll have to change it to include my other passion: language. I was at the Jamba Juice this morning - a rare occurrence for me, but I was next door and the Orange Refresher looked too good to pass up (it wasn't all that great, after all).

Anyway, the fellow behind the counter was *very* difficult to understand. I found myself having to ask for clarification numerous times. And I mean numerous: to order and pay for a silly juice drink, I asked "What?" or "Sorry?" about 5 or 6 times. Now, I work with international students, so I've gotten used to accents from at least 15 different countries. But this guy was as American as apple pie. I tell my students stories like this so they realize that sometimes people don't understand them not because of their accent, but because they are *mumbling*! Let's hear it for speaking up!