The psycholinguist Martin Braine once tried for several weeks to stamp out one of his daughter’s grammatical errors. Here is the result: Child: Want other one spoon, Daddy. Father: You mean, you want THE OTHER SPOON. Child: Yes, I want other one spoon, please, Daddy. Father: Can you say “the other spoon”? Child: Other…one…spoon. Father: Say…“other.” Child: Other. Father: “Spoon.” Child: Spoon. Father: “Other…Spoon.” Child: Other…spoon. Now give me other one spoon? Braine wrote, “Further tuition is ruled out by her protest, vigorously supported by my wife.”
