May we take a break for some mispronunciations that are not strictly terms of art? "Supposably" and "supposively" will be the death of me one day. I find myself retorting with a very careful and over-enunciated "SUPPOSEDLY" in every conversation where these two rear their ugly heads; alas, to no avail. (apologies to Dan Bradley who alluded to this one in the third post) Throw in the lawyer who uses the crutch-phrase "in terns of..." and you have the complete package. Plus, I just had to see this thread stretch to five pages!

I had someone in my office just yesterday who kept saying, "supposably." But she was a witness, so I didn't feel I could correct her. Did anyone see the multitudes of people on TV lately, talking about the Tulia case, who said, "cowwoborate"??? Given, lots of the people worked for the ACLU. . .

Ok, so this probably won't be the last post in the thread, but maybe it will sum up the original intent.

Foreign language student to his professor:

"I don't know what you think about my pronounciation, but I think it's pretty good."

See, I knew this string would stretch at least five pages, but that is because I have an advantage. I work with a person who has, "ESPN" and if you have any DNA related questions, that same person supposedly, I had to use that word, works in the DNA office. I like to tell people I have ESPN2, but my reception is not always so great.

I believe this thread is now an actual, living, breathing creature. It seems to have supernatural qualities. It can not die.

We had a DWI write-up that referred to the accused's vehicle being driven in "an erotic manner." And, yes, he did blow over.

Just heard this one on a "live" news report involving an accident with illegal immigrants in a pickup. "The truck would not stop the vehicle."

The pill was located between the two front seats of the vehicle inside the counsel.

"A complete copy of the defendant's criminal historicity is attached to this report."

From Laura Coats, whose office is next door to mine in Dallas:

"And at that time we called the paramedics to come over and they did some kind of pneumonia thing on him . . .They pulled out some kind of little white thing, broke it open. Started waving it on his face. He came out of whatever it was he was doing. They came over to me and told me that he wasn't having a seizure."

Good thing paramedics carry pneumonia ampules to take care of malingering defendants.

Then there was the visiting judge we had two years ago...less than one hundred years old, but more than 70, not that that has anything to do with it...he was talking about a lawyer he had just had some problems with down in that large city with the orange juice ball field. Being compassionate and respectful of the other guy, his honor said that the fellow was a real
"a. o.". Took us both a minute to realize that maybe syllable number two might have begun with a different letter.

And I'm not just trying for 6 pages, either. Well, maybe a little.

We had a local defense lawyer (now under indictment for felony-level hot checks) once ask for a continuance, due to the "funeralization" of his client's relative.

I also love it when people talk about folks being tried/convicted "IN ABSTENTIA". I heard this several times from supposedly intelligent reporters about that rape fugitive caught in Mexico.

Then there's the cops who constantly say "sale" for "sell" and type it too! Sale is a noun, sell is a verb, people!

Also got a lot of cops who pronounce "reagent", as in reagent field test kit as "regent".

I just received a stack of "character reference" letters addressed to:

The Districattorney and/or the Ass. Districattorney

The suspect refused to advise if he had been shot so this Officer requested the two medical personnel to medically asset the suspect's gun shot wound and or other injuries.

Our First Asst. DA recently received from Rockdale, Texas, a document (I believe it was a clerk's certification) which referred to "the Rockdale Police" as--I swear I'm not making this up--"the RECTAL Police."

Wow, and I thought a family violence task force was as specialized as a police unit could get.

I guess those guys are out of a job now that the Supreme Court has overturned the anti-sodomy law ...

I forgot specifically about the pronunciation of the word "specific". I know a lot of folks, who pronounce it "pacific".

I also failed to note that I've noticed that a lot of folks in West Texas drop the "s" in some plurals:

test - tests - pronounced "test"
risk - risks - pronounced "risk"
desk - desks - pronounced "desk"

Seems to have something to do with final "st" & final "sk".

Hey I am a user of the old, "I'm a nah" sp? for "I am going to..." I am much more conscious of it now after one of our District Judges in court one day asked the Court Reporter, "Miss ______, how do you spell, I'm a nah"? I am now usually quite careful during pleas to say, "Mr. Defendant, I am going to show you ....." I am sure that I do not mispronounce any other words or phrases, as I have no accent whatever having been as my cousin used to say "borned and reared" in that great bastion of language arts known as Houston. We also, at least my Mom does,another native Houstonian, pronounce the word corner like "cawner" and order like "awder", you get the drift.

As I came in contact with the passenger, I recognized him as the male subject who had fled from this officer on 06-12-2003...I then placed him in handcuffs while he was still in the vehicle, to elevate the possibility of another foot pursuit.

On May 14, 2003, at approximately 11:55 a.m. this investigator received a phone call from an unnamed person that has provided reliable and creditable information in the past.

Ok, maybe they are worthy of praise, but is the information trustworthy?