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Tongue Twisters

Written in: Grade 6 | Year: 2008

Peter Piper picked a peck of... Peter piper picked a peck of pickled pep... Peter p... Oh it's no use. I'll never get it.

Good morning/afternoon students, teachers and other guests. Most people refer to tongue twisters as fun phrases to say so you'll... twist your tongue. But the proper definition is... a combination of the same sounds to create a variated alliteration that could put pressure on your tongue which may cause your nerve system go above normal. In other words it can make you go wild! But there is more to tongue twisters than you think. In fact they are one of the only type of rhymes that is said in every language. The most popular English tongue twisters are Peter Piper, Peter Piper and Woodchuck.

I bet you've all wondered how much wood would a woodchuck chuck? Lots of people all over the world could be wondering the same thing. Different languages twisters are said in are French, Italian, Latin, Native, German, Spanish and Polish. In Spanish speaking countries, "Mi Mama me mima mucho" means "My mother spoils me and my friend a lot". "Le ver vert vers le verre vert" in French means "The green worm goes to the green glass". I won't even try to pronounce twisters in any other languages.

There's also more than one type. The one you've probably heard of most often is the story twister. That's like Betsy Butter and Mr. See, Mr. Saw. Another type is one word like cinnamon and photosynthesis. There is also complete alliteration and lisp care which usually start with all s's and th's. Now that would be hard.

Did you know they have different uses?

Speech therapists and health care workers use them to treat people with speech problems or for those who've had strokes or other diseases and need to improve their speaking. Even famous actors and singers use twisters for good pronunciation. Twisters are said to cure hiccups and coughs. Other uses are for checking false teeth and dentures. The way that everyone in this room probably uses them is to have fun.

By now you are probably wondering "uses, types, languages"? Where did all this start? Well if you take a trip half way around the world to Japan you'll know. That's right, the Japanese were the first ones to come up with tongue twisters. But that doesn't mean they weren't used in other places too. In Europe a long time ago twisters were believed to be spells cast on your enemies. Also you would have to have mystical powers to be able to perform them so only the best wizards and witches could use them.

Now that you know all the important stuff it's time to for the most exciting part. Records! The hardest tongue twister is "The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick". That is a mouthful. The longest has 418 words! The worst part is they all start with "s". That's even more of a mouthful. The oldest, most famous and popular English tongue twister is one that I can't even say. Peter Piper. It has been around since 1674.

Man, those are some amazing records. I wish I could pull one. Maybe I can. "The first person to say Peter Piper 100 times fast in less than five minutes". OK... let's try this again. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, where are the picked peppers Peter Piper picked.

Yes... I did it... all I need is 99 more... and maybe speed it up a little... or a lot.

Who knew that those phrases used to entertain us could be so much more.