![\"\"](\"http:\/\/teachersites.schoolworld.com\/webpages\/KQuinn\/imageGallery\/homophones.png\")
<\/p>\nLanguage is like a box of chocolates: sometimes you get the same one twice. I don\u2019t doubt that we have all encountered one of these sweet little treats at one time or another. Creamy dark chocolate covering a nice macadamia nut — just like what you expected right? The same as the last one…Wrong<\/i>, not this time! This one has a gooey caramel center. Surprise! You found the homophone of the candy world.<\/p>\n
Of course I\u2019m not here to talk about chocolate, as much as that would please both of us; I\u2019m here to talk about sweet mouthfuls of words with different meanings, despite their identical sounds or spelling. There are a few names for the different types of words I am describing here, so let\u2019s run through them:<\/p>\n
Homophones:<\/b><\/p>\n
Words that are pronounced the same way yet have different spelling. I baked the flour <\/i>in the shape of a flower<\/i>; I too<\/i>, shall walk to<\/i> number two<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Homographs:<\/b><\/p>\n
Words with identical spelling but different meanings and possibly pronunciations. With a Spanish accent<\/i>, you place the accent<\/i> on a different syllable.<\/p>\n
Heteronyms:<\/b><\/p>\n
Words with identical spelling but different pronunciation. They are homographs that are not homophones. When you think about it, a minute<\/i> is really just a minute<\/i> amount of time.<\/p>\n
Oronyms:<\/b><\/p>\n
Last but not least, the oronyms are phrases that sound similar but have different meanings. The obvious \u2018I scream for ice cream\u2019<\/i> comes to mind.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Now it\u2019s okay if you don\u2019t remember all of them and which category they fall under, I simply want to make you aware of them, to bring their existence into clear view. With a little knowledge of these treats you can avoid some awkward moments, and if you\u2019re so inclined even have some fun:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe toast<\/i>er gave a toast<\/i> to the toast<\/i> that had been toast<\/i>ed, then we dove<\/i> into the cooked dove<\/i>. Later I was bored — I needed to find a way<\/i> to get away<\/i>, so I digest<\/i>ed the food and read the digest<\/i>, then rose<\/i> from my seat and smelt the roses<\/i>. I felt content<\/i> with the content<\/i> of my stomach, so proceeded to leave. I left<\/i> through the entrance<\/i>; I felt entranced<\/i>, so I turned left<\/i> and went down the road. I passed some builders<\/i> building<\/i> a building<\/i>, a man using a saw saw<\/i> me, I waved. In the distance I could see<\/i> the sea<\/i>, and a woman with a tear<\/i> in her eye, so I decided to tear<\/i> off some tissue and wipe it away.\u201d<\/p>\n
What a muddled and confusing story that is, but fun nonetheless; and there are infinite possibilities. What\u2019s also important to note is that the same issues exist in other languages, take Spanish for example:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Asta – Mast \/ Hasta – Until<\/p>\n
Basta – Enough \/ Basta – Coarse \/ Vasta – Vast<\/p>\n
Calle – Street \/ Calle – To silence<\/p>\n
Ciento – Hundred \/ Siento – To feel<\/p>\n
Papa – Pope \/ Papa – Potato<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So the fun isn\u2019t limited to English! Of course these can prove to make communicating in a new language a little difficult, but once you learn the ropes you should be able to have a laugh about it. Can you think of others that have come into your conversations? Can you make an interesting story or scenario of your own?<\/p>\n
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