Minding the homophones

HOMOPHONES differ from homographs and homonyms, which have identical spellings but different meanings. Homophones are similar sounding words. The matching phonetics are usually accompanied by differing spellings and variant meanings. Homophones in speech are rarely discovered. The incorrect use of homophones in written work forms the basis for a quick assessment of writing proficiency. 

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One of my favourite homophones is the set comprising sole(s) and soul(s). The sole is the outer covering of skin under the feet, as also the bottom layer of shoes. (‘in-sole’describes later fashion accessories for the insides of the shoe). Sole indicates the number one and is akin to (solo) singular. The sole is also a variety of fish, thereby qualifying as a homonym. It would be grammatically correct to say: “I ate grilled sole and broccoli for lunch today” or “I wore out the soles of my students’ feet by making them run barefoot for over 2 km.”

‘Soul’, the second part of this homophone set has very little to do with fish, external coverings of feetshoes or numbersquantities. The soul is so deeply entrenched within living beings that CAT scans and ultrasounds have been able to locate it. Apparently, an invisible aspect of our being, the soul never gets worn out and supposedly transfers from one body to another. Possibly, we could try and view the soul as the antonym of the sole, at several levels.

“My shoes are worn out. I must get them soled again.” ‘Soled’ (verb) used here is different from the homonym ‘sold’. Shoes that have not been soled can never be sold.

The presence of homophones reveals the complexity of language due to its derivation from multiple source languages. An appropriate use of homophones at its best displays evidence of punning and wit.

Homophones used erroneously indicate inadequate language skills and poor schooling in the nuances of spelling and vocabulary. It is the processes of writing that trap and reveal to us the misuse of homophones. Speech seldom leaves behind any long-term evidence. Rate lists pasted on shop windows advertise: “Cold child bear sold here.” These are outlets with supplies of “chilled beer”, not frozen children or baby bears! At Chennai airport, a food counter erroneously advertising ‘Ferrero Roaches’ put me off this brand of chocolates, since I couldn’t get the image of cockroaches dipped in chocolate out of my head. Another popular sales pitch made by roadside eateries is: “All day ‘snakes’ and ‘meals’ served here.” Poor spelling has transformed ubiquitous ‘snacks’ into worrisome ‘snakes’ (reptiles). 

Is it only painters of signs doing up eateries in obscure parts of the country that use homophones poorly? On the contrary, written work by students in senior school and in undergraduate courses often displays poor homophonic skills. The noun ‘principle’ (lawtruthbelief) is used incorrectly instead of the adjective ‘principal’ which qualifies the primary person/position, as in school/college principal or principal actor.

Their/there; knew/new; fowl/foul; deer/dear; shoe/shoo; week/weak; ate/eight; weight/wait; cite/site; feet/feat; symbols/cymbals; heroin/heroine are other  instances wherein incorrect homophones demonstrate poor language abilities. It is a good idea to be alert to spellings whenever homophones come into play.