It's interesting how speaking different languages teaches us to focus on different subtle consonant and vowel sounds. It took me forever to learn the difference between the Swedish "o" and "ö", for example. The difference may be very obvious to a Swede, but to me it seemed like such tiny insignificant shadings. Because in English, we don't focus on that particular distinction; it's all more or less our "o". The vowels in "more" and "moor" are quite different sounds, and I can hear the difference when I say those two words out loud. But when I try saying just the "o" sound from each word out loud by itself, I find it hard to distinguish between the two vowels.

It works both ways. For the longest time, Pär used to mix up "v" and "w". Two very distinct sounds in English, but in Swedish, those two consonants blur into each other so there's hardly a difference. Even when Pär knew how to spell a "v" or "w" word quite clearly in his mind, that didn't always translate into correct English pronunciation. So he'd be talking about something and mention, say, "womit," and it would crack me up each time. He sounded like a bad Dracula imitation, or like Chekov in Star Trek IV, asking people on the street where to find the nuclear wessels.

I tried not to call his attention to his mispronunciation, so that he'd go on saying such things and maintain that adorable accent, but I could never keep the little smile off my face. He got to recognizing that smile and would look at me suspiciously, think back over what he'd just said, and correct himself. Alas, Pär's accent is slowly fading. He still says "wery vell" every now and then, though, and he doesn't always catch himself doing it.

Today he and I went out for brunch. I got silver dollar pancakes! I love silver dollar pancakes! At my favorite cafe, you get a stack of fourteen delicious silver dollar pancakes with real maple syrup, plus a small bowl of good fresh fruit, all for $3.50. Mmmm.

Pär ordered the Country Omelet. I noticed when he ordered that he pronounced it "COWntry", which when you think about it is a pretty reasonable way to say the word. Why is the "ou" in "country" pronounced differently from how it's pronounced in "county"? There's no rule that makes an "r" change the vowel sound, is there? Just different evolutionary paths leading to each word. English is strange and illogical and I'm very glad I learned it as a first language, because I can't imagine the patience it would take to learn it as a second.

Anyway, while we were waiting for our food, I decided to point out Pär's little slip, since it was one I hadn't heard him do before.

"You know, we pronounce that word 'country'," I said.

He frowned. "How did I pronounce it?"

"COWntry."

His lips moved, trying the word one way and then the other. Clearly, he could not tell the two sounds apart, which I found fascinating.

"What's the difference?" he asked.

"Let me put it this way," I said. "I wouldn't be mad if you called me a 'count'."

He thought about it for a minute, then nodded.

"I see what you mean," he said appreciatively.