INDEX
Grand Traverse Insider, February 15, 2009
Prime Time News, January 2009
Bay Area Times, August
2001
Grand Traverse Herald, October 2002
Prime Time News, July 2003
TC Record-Eagle Active
Years, November 2003
TC Record
Eagle, July 15, 2004
Leelanau Enterprise, May 26, 2005
Grand
Traverse Insider, February 15, 2009
Worthy
Wordsmith:
Author
delights in dissecting English language
By
KRISTINE MORRIS
Contributing
Writer
Imagine
this: a radio program devoted to answering people’s questions about grammar
and word usage. Sounds like something that should come with a warning not to
listen to it while driving or operating heavy machinery doesn’t it?
Yet
Mike Sheehan’s popular radio program, “Words to the Wise,” co-hosted with
Ron Jolly, on the air every Tuesday from 9:10 to 10 a.m. on WTCM (AM 580), has
exactly the opposite effect.
Sheehan
takes pleasure in delighting listeners with lighthearted, and often uproarious,
answers to all sorts of questions about the English language, which he admits is
complicated enough to make anyone feel a bit insecure.
“People
have to relax in the presence of language,” said Sheehan, a Leelanau County
resident. “Most of us were taught that it’s a fragile object, and that rules
must be strictly maintained in order to protect it. The language is actually
burly and boisterous. It drinks beer as well as champagne. It’s over 1,500
years old, and unlike the rest of us, it gets stronger as it ages.”
Three
elements go into making the show, which has been on the air since 2001,
including Sheehan’s wit, love for the language, and the knowledge earned over
29 years of teaching experience; the chemistry that exists on the air between
him and Ron Jolly, “a local icon in northern Michigan,” as Sheehan says, and
an “intelligent, witty, and generous” man; and the always interesting
questions called in by a loyal and inquisitive audience.
People
from all walks of life, from homeschoolers to senior citizens, ask questions
like “Why is a street market referred to as a flea market?” or, “Where did
Holy Moly come from, and what does it mean?” The answers are often surprising,
always fun, and help listeners to do just what Sheehan hopes they will do; think
of language as a friend and enjoy it.
Breaking
the ‘rules’
“It
was only after I retired from classroom teaching (in 1994) that I discovered the
bogus nature of many fussy grammatical rules,” said Sheehan. “I’m
referring to things such as, ‘never split an infinitive,’ ‘never end a
sentence with a preposition,’ ‘never begin a sentence with a conjunction.’
These were ‘rules’ invented in the 18th century by British poet John Dryden
and his cronies because they were ashamed that English was unruly. Most of these
rules were wooden-headedly based on Latin,” he said, “and had nothing to do
with the underpinnings of English.
“To
my chagrin, I have to admit that I also promoted this nonsense when I was
teaching.” Now, instead of recommending “stuffy grammar books,” Sheehan
says that “change is not a synonym for deterioration,” and hopes people will
become infected with a love of the language, and read whatever brings them
pleasure. He calls Oprah and her popular book club “a ray of hope” in
getting people interested in reading and talking about their experiences in the
wonderful world of books.
Sheehan
is the author of ten books; his latest, “More Words to the Wise: A
Lighthearted Look at the English Language” (Arbutus Press, 2009) is a
compilation of the questions called in or e-mailed to him by listeners over the
past four years. He describes it as a “perfect bathroom book: no chapters to
confine you, and short questions and answers that can be read in any order
whatsoever.” The book is available at Horizon Books, 243 E. Front St., in
Traverse City.
Sheehan
is a member of the Society of Midland Authors, the Dictionary Society of North
America, the American Dialect Society, and Michigan Writers. He also serves on
several advisory boards and councils serving senior citizens. His Web site,
“The Senior Corner,” is sponsored by the Traverse Area District Library, and
can be found at http://seniors.tcnet.org.
Sheehan
can be contacted with questions at wordmall@aol.com. His radio program can now
be heard in real time (Tuesday, 9:10 to 10 a.m. EST) in streaming audio by going
to wtcmradio.com, and clicking on “Listen Now.” You'll find podcasts under The
Ron Jolly Show.
*
www.grandtraverseinsider.com
PRIME TIME NEWS
JANUARY 2009
Wanted:
More Computer-Savvy Seniors
By Heidi Jo
Wayco-Berden
Sheehan is the Web master for
The Senior Corner, a fun and informative Web site that caters to the interests
and needs of senior citizens, their neighbors and caregivers.
The site, seniors.tcnet.org,
has so much information and links to a plethora of other sites that Sheehan said
it would take him more than six months to visit every linked site.
Part of the revolution includes
being creative about training seniors to be more computer-savvy.
He teaches computer classes
twice each month at the
“Most of the students are
older than I am and I’m approaching 70,” Sheehan said. “I focus on two
areas of the Internet: what is it and, once you’re there, how you find what
you’re looking for.”
Sheehan said senior citizens
should consider asking a student or a neighbor to help them navigate their
computer and the Internet. He refers to his concept as “each one reach one.”
“If you are comfortable with
the internet, reach out,” he said. “If you’re not, find a neighborhood kid
to teach you — bake them some cookies,” he said.
Local computer clubs might
benefit from one of Sheehan’s ideas. He would like to see clubs create a
training program for senior citizens.
“Club members could do home
visits,” he said. “They might charge $5 that could go toward the club
coffers.”
Sheehan said he views teaching
seniors to use their computers and especially the Internet as a way for him to
give a voice to the voiceless.
“Don’t just sit there in
isolation,” he said. “The Internet is crammed with information and
opportunities — it’s a lifeline.”
Sheehan said the Internet can
support seniors in staying in touch with family.
“The strange thing about it
is it’s easier to use than a TV remote,” he said. “The Internet is so
simple."
“If someone gives you a
computer, all you have to do is connect to the internet. There are people who
will take your money and gladly connect you to the internet—the phone company,
the cable company, satellite companies, and even Cherryland Electric.”
Sheehan, who lives with his
artist wife Dona in
He started the Web site as the
result of his participation with the Traverse City District Library. He spends
his office hours in the Friends of the TC District Library office on the
second floor of the library.
Library director Mike McGuire
was instrumental in the creation of the site, giving it space on a corner of the
library computer’s mainframe (thus the name).
“Having the library as the Senior Corner home makes eminent sense,” he said. “It is a community resource.”
The very first section holds a
bank of articles about senior issues.
Then comes a Local section that
has three main divisions. Part one is a local section that focuses on
There also is a “Remote
Info” section that takes visitors to federal agencies, consumer groups, and
health Web sites.
“One of the lovely things you
can do as a senior is feed your mind — in fact, you’d better, if you don't
want to lose it.”
Sheehan retired in 1994 after
teaching English for 26 years in the City Colleges of
For more information, visit the
Senior Corner Web site: seniors.tcnet.org.
BAY AREA TIMES
August 2001
Susan Kohler
The Senior Corner web site, winner of the 2000 Northern Michigan Site of the
Year, has been online since 1995 and was the first Web site in Northern Michigan
devoted exclusively to senior citizens. Mike Sheehan, a retired English
Professor and author of several works of fiction and writing handbooks, created
and maintains the site. He describes it as "a one-man
operation." The concept was formed when Mike McGuire, from the Traverse
Area District Library, took on the ISP from Northwestern Michigan Community College
to give the general public a means of going online. TC Net was formed and is
still sponsored by the library and operated as a free public service. At the
time, McGuire requested that each advisor on the board of advisors for TC Net
carve out an area on the Web site and specialize on it. Newly retired and
volunteering as an advisor, Sheehan decided to specialize in a site devoted to
senior citizen concerns. "At that time seniors were an underrepresented
group on the Internet," he relates and adds, "I didn’t know anything
about Web sites." He gives credit to Jeff Godin of TADL for his assistance
in the learning process.
Before setting up the site, Sheehan researched senior sites to learn what works.
For example, few graphics combined with large print (minimum of 14 point) are
better for senior eyes. He also color-codes for consistency. Major divisions are
shown in red, while html connections are in blue. He says his goal was to
make it "clean and neat looking," and he adds, "it’s developed
over a 6-year period." Sheehan describes the site as "a collecting
agency for information for Northern Michigan seniors." It holds a plethora
of information from medical information to legal, social and cultural
information. A browser can get online go to The Senior Corner’s address,
then surf the net easily from there as all the materials have been effectively
gathered in one place. The Senior Corner Web site gets a modest average amount
of 340 hits per day. Sheehan says that’s " a lot for what it is."
The information is not only useful to seniors, but to anyone who deals with or
helps seniors as well.
The site is divided into four main sections: the home page, an articles section
(a bank of articles on varied subjects) a section on local information and one
on remote information. The core of the local information section is The Guide,
which consists of 118 agencies and organizations. The Guide was assembled
by Mary Doezema, who granted permission for it to be placed on The Senior Corner
Web site. Each section consists of links to other sites, creating a puzzle that
leads a user to national and even international sites. The local section also
includes a Northwest Michigan Information Referral Service; a
personalized tool to find needed resources in the region like food, shelter,
childcare, medical facilities, etc. Sheehan explains that you just feed in the
parameters and automatically receive information on relevant agencies to
contact. Then there is the Remote Information Section, where
you’ll find easy connections to huge amounts of information — federal
agencies, consumer groups, senior e-zines and much more. Almost everything you
click on has connections. Sheehan calls it "mind boggling."
Continually adding to the site, Sheehan asks that "if you find something
not on the site that is pertinent to seniors, send me an e-mail (umbrascit@aol.com).
Help is always appreciated. Almost every month something pops up — a new
branch, new kind of service, new piece of information." His goal is to
increase The Senior Corner’s depth, especially where local resources are
concerned. The site also serves as a bulletin board for local associations
like BASA and Triad (a group whose focus is on senior safety).
The Senior Corner serves as a great local resource for Northern Michigan
seniors. Go to http://seniors.tcnet.org/.
GRAND
TRAVERSE HERALD
October 16, 2002
Senior
Corner provides bytes of information
Website
has thousands of links for seniors
By LISA
PERKINS
Herald staff writer
Michael Sheehan has a goal - to provide
seniors in northern Michigan, and those that care for them, with as much
information as possible. That was the impetus for the Senior Corner website
Sheehan created under the sponsorship of the Traverse Area District Library.
"It started out real plain jane," said
Sheehan of the website that now has thousands of links and gets an average of
400 hits per day.
"When we started this eight years ago, the
Internet was new. There were only about 100 public access sites," Sheehan
noted.
Today the site contains links to information
including articles on subjects of interest to seniors like "Grandparents
Raising Grandchildren," "Aging and Your Eyes," "Fire
Prevention," and "Locating Eldercare."
Local information includes hundreds of services
and organizations available to seniors in Antrim, Benzie, Grand Traverse,
Kalkaska and Leelanau counties. A "Family Caregiver's Bulletin Board,"
"Respite Care Guide," and guide to local government agencies are among
the listings.
Sheehan, a retired English teacher from the City
Colleges of Chicago, spends hours searching the web for new links to add to the
Senior Corner site. However, he is always looking for more local information.
"It's good now but it could be better,"
Sheehan said.
"I'm always looking for public input. I
really need people to let me know about programs that are available for seniors.
I need eyes and ears in the community."
Sheehan's interest in serving the local senior
population goes beyond cyberspace. He serves on the advisory board of the Bay
Area Senior Advocates, BASA, and has been appointed to the State Advisory
Committee on Aging. He also teaches classes at the Traverse City Senior Center
helping seniors learn how to access and navigate the Internet.
"There has been more and more interest in
the classes over the years," Sheehan noted. "The classes help seniors
break the cycle of isolation. That is what this is all about."
For more information on the Senior Corner, visit
http.seniors.tcnet.org. For more information on computer and other classes
available at the Traverse City Senior Center, call 922-4911.
Copyright ©
The Grand Traverse Herald. All rights reserved.
PRIME
TIME
news & observer
July 2003
All Things "Senior" May Be
Found In One Well-Organized "Corner"
by Cindy Foster Grace
In the world of advertising, you often hear the phrase "one stop
shopping" which means that certain stores offer everything a consumer could
possibly want to buy. Well, consider the Senior Corner, sponsored by the
Traverse Area District Library, a one-stop web site for researching information
on all things senior in Northern Michigan.
The building, design, and maintenance of this comprehensive web site has been
quite an intensive labor of love for one Leelanau County resident. In 1995, Mike
McGuire, Director of the Traverse Area District Library, issued a call for
volunteers to join a Community Network Advisory Council as freenet operations
shifted from Northwestern Michigan College to the Traverse Area District
Library.
Mike Sheehan of Leelanau County was one of twelve volunteers on that advisory
board. Sheehan said, "While I had used computers during my career as an
English teacher in the City Colleges of Chicago, I brought very little technical
knowledge with me. Instead, my background as a writer and researcher who knew
something about extracting information from the World Wide Web is probably what
caught Mike's eye."
McGuire issued a challenge to the members of the nascent advisory board to
choose a segment of the Traverse Community Network in which to specialize.
Sheehan had retired the previous year and decided that his focus would be on the
growing population of computer-literate seniors in the northern Michigan area.
He said, "The Senior Corner, as far as I know, was the first web site
devoted exclusively to senior citizens in all of northern Michigan, and it was
one of only about six such dedicated sites in the entire midwest. I remember
that I was able to ferret out only about twelve quality sites to include in the
Remote Resources section that first year."
He goes on to add, "The principal impetus was my observation that seniors
were sadly underrepresented on the internet, and my belief that this medium
could be a source of information and isolation-breaking."
Sheehan is still the one-man dynamo that expands and maintains the site. His
research experience has really paid off, and the Senior Corner is a fertile
place to gather information. Sheehan explains, "I'm constantly trolling the
web to find useful sites, and I call organizations and individuals to see what
they can provide me with. In addition, I subscribe to web newsletters, such as
Tourbus, which categorize and evaluate web sites."
There is no formal affiliation between the Senior Corner web site and the Senior
Center in Traverse City. However, Sheehan gave the Senior Center their first
public-use computers back in 1995, providing the rudimentary beginning of their
computer lab. He said, "I teach classes on internet basics there a couple
of times a month. To network with the senior services community and thus pick
their brains, I have joined several organizations."
Some of Sheehan's noted activities in senior organizations include being
appointed to a two-year term on the State Advisory Council on Aging. The Council
is composed of 40 members statewide, and its duties include studying aging
issues and recommending policy to the Commission on Services to the Aging.
Sheehan represents Region 10, which serves the counties of Antrim, Benzie,
Charlevoix, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Manistee, Missaukee, and
Wexford.
In addition, Sheehan is an active member of BASA (Bay Area Senior Advocates), a consortium of more than 30 membership agencies devoted to supporting and enriching the lives of older adults through collaboration, planning, and advocacy. He is also a member of the advisory board of the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan. These activities certainly offer a rich well of resources that Sheehan utilizes to maintain the Senior Corner web site.
Sheehan's dedication has definitely paid off, and the Senior Corner has become a
pretty "happening" internet site. According to Sheehan, since August
2002, when the malfunctioning counter was turned back on, the site has had
143,586 requests. This tallies up as an average of 548 visitors per day. Monday
is the busiest day, and while viewers enter the site day and night, 10:00 to
noon seems to be the favorite time. Most visitors are from the USA and Canada,
but the site also has visitors throughout South America, Europe, Asia, and
Africa. The item viewed most often is an article entitled, "Fire Safety in
the Home." Hundreds of fire departments, parenting sites, and other
organizations have linked to that article.
Sheehan recommends using Advanced Google to check out the many sites that link
to the Senior Corner. He explained, "I think you can also track them by
entering link:http://seniors.tcnet.org in the simpler version of Google."
Not one to rest on his laurels, Sheehan is always looking for suggestions,
additional information, and ways to improve the web site. "As a matter of
fact," he said, "I crave suggestions. With public input, this should
become an encyclopedic resource for seniors."
He also adds that anyone who wishes to link to the Senior Corner without
changing it may do so without prior permission. In his quest to be comprehensive
and thorough, Sheehan also went to the trouble of researching senior physiology
to determine what would work best for a senior web site. He said, "For
example, few graphics combined with large print (14 point minimum) are better
for senior eyes. I also color code for consistency. Major divisions are shown in
red, while html connections are in blue. My goal was to make it clean-looking
and stressless to navigate."
Obviously, the Senior Corner is no small commitment on Sheehan's part. He
travels to the main library in Traverse City three to five times per week. He
said, "Depending on what has been sent in or what I have found
independently, I will spend from half an hour to three hours each time entering
or revising data. It is a significant investment of my time."
And just what does Sheehan receive for that significant investment? He said,
"I don't get paid, except in personal satisfaction. It represents an
extension of the motto which guided my teaching career: giving a voice to the
voiceless. Of course, as the boomers reach seniorhood, they will be quite vocal
and computer-literate. The Senior Corner will be waiting for them."
To access the plethora of information available through the Senior Corner,
simply log on to http://seniors.tcnet.org
You may also email Mike Sheehan by using the mail form on the bottom of each
page or by writing to seniorcorner@tcnet.org He would be delighted to have your
input.
TRAVERSE CITY RECORD-EAGLE
ACTIVE
YEARS
November 2003
By ERIN ANDERSON
"You just can't sit around all day. You've got to get out there," said
Cedar resident Mike Sheehan.
And at 64, Sheehan has no intention of slowing down. He continues to pursue the
same interests that he developed as a younger man. But now he has the freedom of
retirement which allows him to decide his own hours and projects.
His love of learning, language and a desire to help others has translated into a
life filled with rewarding experiences that always keeps him busy.
One is his radio call-in program, "Words to the Wise." Every Tuesday
morning from 9 to 10 a.m., Sheehan discusses "the joys and vicissitudes of
the English language" during Ron Jolly's morning show on WTCM, AM 580.
"It's really a busy show," said Sheehan. "The phone lines are
lighting up all the time. I'm always amazed, but people really care about this
stuff. When I first started teaching, it seemed that nobody did."
Sheehan's knowledge of English grammar and usage began in the rather unlikely
setting of St. Augustine's seminary. At 15, Sheehan left his Chicago home to enter the seminary near Saugatuck, Michigan, where his schooling included Latin
and Greek.
" I didn't really understand English until I understood those two ancient
languages," he said.
After his secondary education was complete, Sheehan continued his studies at the
university level, receiving his bachelor's degree in Philosophy from Villanova
University, as well as his Masters degree in English Literature from
DePaul University.
Sheehan then re-entered the classroom, this time as a professor, teaching in the
English department at the City Colleges of Chicago (Olive-Harvey campus).
He began teaching Renaissance British literature, but after a few years, the
program was pared down to "basics," leaving Mike to teach only the
most fundamental principles of reading and writing to students.
Unable to find a textbook he felt would suitably teach his students the basics
of English grammar and usage, Mike decided to write one himself, "The
Handbook for Basic Writers" (along with "The Workbook for Basic
Writers"), and subsequently used it in his own classes.
Over his 26-year career at the City Colleges of Chicago, Mike continued
collecting information which resulted in the eventual publication of
"Words! A Vocabulary Power Workbook" and "The Word Parts
Dictionary."
He also published two young-adult adventure novels, "The Cry of the
Jackal" and "In the Shadow of the Bear."
After retiring in 1994, Mike and his wife began looking for a place where they
could relocate.
"We made it a sort of research project, gathering as much information as
possible on several different areas, "he said.
Finally, northern Michigan, where Sheehan had been spent many summers since the
late '60s, won out. Not one to wait for things to happen, Mike immediately went
out into the community and began creating a satisfyingly busy life for himself.
After joining the advisory board of the Traverse Area District Library's Freenet,
each member was asked to declare a specialty area to which they could
contribute. After realizing that there was very little out there about seniors,
he decided to choose them for his subject.
Thus, the "Senior Corner" was born. The site, at www.seniors.tcnet.org
, seeks to provide northwest Michigan's older adults with material on
health issues,personal safety, supplemental income, financial help, legal aid, nursing home
care and more.
Sheehan realizes that many seniors are not online and that some are skeptical or
afraid of computers.
"Right now I'm just packing the site with information so that in the next
few years, as more and more seniors get online, the information will be there
waiting for them," he said.
In order to keep the site current and relevant to today's seniors, Sheehan
incorporates what he learns from the many organizations to which he belongs.
"I join groups to gather information," he said. He is currently a
member of BASA (Bay Area Senior Advocates), and on the Board of Advisors of the
Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan. He also holds an appointment to the
State Advisory Council on Aging in Lansing, to which he reports several times a
year with information based on his work with seniors in northwest Michigan.
Sheehan also gets out in the community, interacting with seniors and getting
their take on issues affecting their lives.
One way of advancing his mission to get more seniors online is by teaching
computer classes at the Traverse City Senior Center.
"Seniors can learn; you just have to convince them that they can. It's
confidence building," he said.
Sheehan teaches two courses, one on e-mail and internet basics, and one on
search engines and downloading.
"E-mail seems to be the main attraction for most seniors. It's a way to draw
them into computers. Many of them want to keep in touch with the
grandkids," he said.
Sheehan emphasized the importance of getting out of the house and being active.
One way is to volunteer. He has done this to stay mentally and physically
strong.
"I just don't understand people who don't volunteer," he added.
"You have to give back to your community."
About the only thing Mike lacks is more time. In addition to his senior-related
activities, he is also a member of the Society of Midland Authors, The
Dictionary Society of North America, and Michigan Writers.
And he wishes he had more time to work on his fiction, as he is currently
writing three novels.
But all in all, Sheehan is a happy man.
When speaking of his home in Cedar, Mike smiled and said, "I wake up every
morning and look out over that lake and I think, 'Man...this isn't too
bad.'"
Erin Anderson is a local author and freelance writer.
Margaret Thompson
Traverse
City Record-Eagle
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Author, radio host has
answers to questions
How do you
spell the condiment that's made from tomatoes, and is commonly used to enhance
the flavor of foods like French fries and hot dogs? Is it k-e-t-c-h-u-p? Or is
it
Author
Michael Sheehan has the answer. In his latest book, "Words to the Wise: A
Lighthearted Look at the English Language," Sheehan writes, "A trip
through your local grocery store will show that even manufacturers can't agree
on the spelling. All three are in common use, , and have been for quite a while.
Catchup appears in print in 1690, ketchup in 1711, and catsup in 1730. Some
purists insist that it should be spelled ketchup because of its probable origin,
the Malay word ke-chap, a fish gravy or sauce.
Sheehan's
book is a compilation of questions relating to the English language from people
who tune in to "Words to the Wise," a radio talk show airing at 9:00
a.m. Tuesdays on WTCM-AM 580 in Traverse City. Sheehan said the show was
originally called "Grammatically Incorrect" and was co-hosted by Ron
Jolly and Steve Cook.
"I was
a guest on the show when my book, 'Word Parts Dictionary,' came out," he
said. "That's how I got started in radio. When Steve left I started doing
the show every week."
Cook, who is
the production manager at WTCM Radio, left the show in 2001. Sheehan said the
name of the show was changed to "Words to the Wise" after Cook left,
but the format has remained pretty much the same.
"It's
about our language," he said. "People seem to have a basic fear and
insecurity about language and all that goes with it—spelling, pronunciation,
and proper usage. We're able to relieve, I suppose, some of those fears. And we
have fun doing it."
Sheehan's
knowledge of and love for the English language came at an early age. The son of
Irish immigrants, he grew up in a multi-ethnic neighborhood on Chicago's south
side.
"There
were many languages spoken in our neighborhood," he said. "We had an
advantage because my parents spoke English, and we read a lot, too."
Sheehan
graduated from Villanova University and De Paul University and began teaching
English in the City Colleges of Chicago. In 1990, he wrote his first book,
"In the Shadow of the Bear" (Avalon Books), followed by "The Cry
of the Jackal" (Avalon books, 1991), "Workbook for Basic Writers"
(Prentice-Hall, 1991), "Handbook for Basic Writers" (Prentice-Hall,
1991), "Words: A Vocabulary Power Workbook" (Harcourt Brace, 1996),
and "The Word Parts Dictionary" (McFarland & Co., 2000).
Besides
broadcasting and writing, Sheehan is involved with several organizations
dedicated to serving senior citizens. He's a member of the Bay Area Senior
Advocates and is on the Advisory Board of the Area Agency on Aging of Northwest
Michigan. He's also been appointed for a second term to the State Advisory
Council on Aging, and he runs a web site, http://seniors.tcnet.org, for the
Traverse Area District Library.
"It's
called The Senior Corner," he
said. "It's a free community network that seniors can access to find out
about services available to them."
Sheehan
likes doing the radio show because he's passionate about language, but he said
the audience is an important part of the program.
"Our
listeners come from all walks of life," he said. "They ask interesting
questions. They're the reason I wrote the book."
Ron Jolly,
host of the Words to the Wise radio
show, said Sheehan's enthusiasm for language is amazing.
"He
loves the language," he said. "He loves to teach, he listens to
classical music—he's a real gentleman. He also likes to watch violent movies
that have exploding cars. And he has a great sense of humor."
In the
preface of his latest book, Sheehan writes what listeners hear on Tuesday
mornings when they tune in: " This is Words
to the Wise, where grammar matters, spelling matters, and word choice
matters--not because they’re sacred cows, but because we need them to
communicate accurately and securely. Our language is meant not to confine us,
but to set us free. That’s why the motto of this show is, “The limits of my
language are the limits of my world. [Ludwig Wittgenstein]"
THE
LEELANAU ENTERPRISE
Thursday, May 26, 2005
A checkup from the word doctor
A column by John Tune
Chris Olson, an Enterprise reporter, good-naturedly accused me of being a
“word geek” the other day. It might have been the first time I've been
called a geek and didn't mind it one bit.
Admittedly, I'm a bit compulsive about how words are used, and pronounced. When
someone writes “further” when they really meant “farther” (there is a
difference), or says “spicket” when the correct word is “spigot,” I'm
often left wondering about the future of the English language.
Rather than seek therapy, I checked in with the word doctor: Leelanau County
resident Mike Sheehan. Mike, a long-time college English teacher in Chicago,
retired to Cleveland Township in 1994 and has made numerous contributions to the
community since then. He is a supporter of senior issues through his involvement
in the Area Agency on Aging for Northwest Michigan, the State Advisory Council
on Aging, and the Bay Area Senior Advocates. Mike also runs a website for senior
citizens that is sponsored by the Traverse Area District Library. [The Senior
Corner, http://seniors.tcnet.org]
He's also seen frequently at the township library in Leland (“the most social
place in the world,” he says), as a member of the Lamplighters Club that meets
at the school in Leland, at Sleeping Bear Golf Club (where he plays “a lot of
bad golf”) and at dining spots like the Western Avenue Grill and Art's Tavern
in Glen Arbor.
Mike is best known locally, however, as the star of Words to the Wise, a radio
show on WTCM-AM 580 that airs every Tuesday morning with host Ron Jolly. Mike
answers questions about grammar, word choice, phrase origins - and settles
friendly wagers between spouses and friends when there's a dispute about word
usage.
The good doctor helped improve my view when he told me that the English language
is getting along just fine, thank you. “It's different, but not worse,” he
assured me. “In fact, the language is stronger than ever, but then I'm an
optimist.”
Mike explained that English is a complicated language that has undergone much
change over the centuries. Many people are insecure about how they sound when
they speak, or how their words are interpreted when they write. That insecurity
is a characteristic of the confusion and hesitancy that is unique in writing and
speaking styles. To me, that confusion is vexing. To Mike, it's not so much that
words, grammar and spelling are sacred cows, but that we learn to deal with
people's wide-ranging styles to achieve good communication.
Mike's philosophy is working, judging by the popularity of the radio show. The
show is effective for me because Mike is not condescending to listeners, he has
fun, and he's always prepared. Unlike many of my old English teachers, he
doesn't take himself too seriously.
Mike concludes by saying that language is not meant to confine, but to set us
free. There, I feel better already.