Spelling success across the globe
A record 288 spellers are participating in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which kicks off its finals today in Washington. John Dimsdale reports how spelling bees are a successful practice internationally.
The cast of musical "Spelling Bee" at Sydney Theatre (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)
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TEXT OF STORY
Scott Jagow: Last year, the winning word was Serrefine. S-e-r-r-e-f-i-n-e. It's a blood vessel clamp. Today, the finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee get underway in Washington. This year, a record 288 spellers are participating. The Spelling Bee has become quite the international business. John Dimsdale has more from Washington.
John Dimsdale: Thanks to an Oscar-nominated documentary, a best selling novel, a hit Broadway musical and a feature-length movie, spelling bees are hip. And not just in the U.S.
Paige Kimble: We have inquiries from China and Taiwan and South Korea and Malaysia.
The director of the National Spelling Bee, Paige Kimble says there 22 two non-native English speakers among this year's finalists, competing for a $40,000 first place prize. That includes students from Ghana and South Korea.
Kimble: The ultimate mark of having mastered the English language is to be able to say you're a champion speller. So they want to demonstrate their mastery by participating in spelling bees.
For the third year in a row, the ABC television network will broadcast Friday's final competition live. And for the international audience, ESPN360.com, will stream today's quarterfinals live on their website.
In Washington, I'm John Dimsdale for Marketplace.
Comments
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From DC, 05/30/2008
The word is "sardoodledom". There's a youtube link, which I won't post here, of the child laughing when he's asked to spell it.
From Corona, CA, 05/29/2008
I also would like to have the word that means excessive melodrama.
From Philadelphia, PA, 05/29/2008
I have the same question as Laura Clark -- what was that word that means excessive melodrama? I can't figure out how to spell it to look it up in the dictionary!
From Vienna, VA, 05/29/2008
In Jagow he mentioned the spelling bee story about the child and the audience laughing at the silly sounding word that meant excessive melodrama? Can you tell me again what it was and the correct spelling please?
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