| DILEMNA THEORIES
Listed below are some possible explanations as to why many millions of people were taught to spell Dilemna with an N. Perhaps it was a printer error in a school text book? 
That would instantly appear to explain why so many spell it with an N and why it might even have spread across the English speaking world, so seems a plausible explanation at first glance. However... No one can uncover such a text book, any mention of 'Dilemma' always has the double MM spelling. In fact I've come across several retired teachers who are absolutely convinced that they have only encountered the double MM spelling relatively recently and fully expect that all they have to do is look back at old text books they've kept to discover that old faithful MN spelling... ...they are literally shocked to discover that every book they've kept has the double MM version!  The Academical Explanation:
Philologists (language experts) have suggested that the Dilemna misspelling is an error that stretches back hundreds of years for the simple reason that our brains gloss over the error. At a quick glance the different spellings are easy to miss - 'mm' or 'mn' look very similar in some print. Again at first thought this seems quite plausible although Dilemna spellers do generally report seeing the 'Dilemma' spelling as looking very wrong indeed. However, more importantly, the N spelling was apparently taught to children without anyone spotting the error. A quite surprisingly large number report the same distinctive memory of being taught to pronounce it to themselves as DI-LEM-NA to help remember the 'correct' N spelling. This would seem to infer that teachers themselves may have made the mistake and passed it on to pupils. Again it seems odd that this error wasn't noticed, especially as it seems to have persisted over many generations and countries. The Dilemna Twilight Zone Explanation: Alternate universe enthusiast Marden Paul of Toronto put forward a theory several years ago that Dilemna people had all somehow crossed over into this parallel 'Dilemma' spelling universe and that's why they feel discombobulated to discover that not only are they wrong but there's also no trace of an N spelling anywhere in any dictionary in the history of this new universe! Ridiculous? More than likely! But... before dismissing any outlandish theories about this and other 'Mandela' stuff, it's worth realising that particle physicists have discovered some pretty weird stuff when examining the basic building blocks which make up everything around us. Firstly, every single thing including ourselves is made up of almost entirely empty space, with just tiny points of vibrating energy holding it all together! Next, there's likely to be at least 10 dimensions, not just the 3 that we experience daily. A fair number of physicists suggest that alternate universes are a distinct possibility, perhaps even existing in the same space as ourselves just slightly out of phase. A bit like another note on the same guitar string. So, do I think this is the Dilemna explanation? Well no, not really. I'm sure there is a simpler explanation, however it is worth giving the above just a little bit of thought. Even if you disagree with the above please take a moment to read about the very strange Dilemna that has baffled every particle physicist for 100 years... Click here for the wave/particle dilemna >> Click here to add your own comment >> |
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