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Steta Publishers is a writing and brand language consultancy. We do both, creative and technical writing.

Games People No Longer Play

26/7/2012

4 Comments

 
Picture
Remember the time when friends, siblings, or entire families crowded around Scrabble boards? It was a time when our prime occupation, for those few hours, was words. We accused one another, “There’s no such word in the English language.” A self-appointed referee could open the hard-bound dictionary (Webster’s, Collins, or Oxford’s) to check if the disputed word existed. More accusations - “You saw that word just now in the dictionary.” There were moments of sheer agony - when a player blocked a place on the board that you were eyeing. And there were moments of ecstasy when you managed a Triple Word Score. Remember how we prayed while picking those little square letters from an old, tattered tea cover? “God! Please let me not get one more L, N, Y, or E.”

During these sessions, we learnt new words and their meanings. We built a good rapport and grudging respect. We argued and our friendships only got better. It was a time when we played with words. We thought about words, juggled them, pulled them out from our memory banks and hoped no one caught us if we spelt a word wrongly. In desperation, especially with a Double or Triple Word Score beckoning, we even tried inventing new ones! And then, it was of course, back to God. 

I do not know how many households encourage their children to play this wonderful board game. I do not know how many of the present generation know about this game. How many know, but simply do not care? And even if people do play this game, I am glad we did not have to go online, join some session of scrabble, and play with a stranger. 

Urmilla Chandran
The author is co-founder and Director, Content Development at Steta
4 Comments
Sambit Kumar Pradhan link
26/7/2012 02:46:59 am

Aaahhh....those were the times.Indeed! I remember playing Scrabble mostly with my mother. Ma, though a BA, had just a functional knowledge of the English language, mostly studied as a third language during her schooling in Oriya medium schools. I, on the other hand, was studying in an English medium school since the very beginning. While I grappled with my newly acquired knowledge of the language, Ma was recalling hers and discovering the language all over again.And it used be bliss when Bapa, my father, could join us. He, from his middle school on-wards, had had an English education. And he was good at it too. It used to be fun looking at my friend's surprised expressions when they learnt that the reason behind my improving vocabulary was a game!

Sadly, those times are gone. I have to go online to take care of my Scrabble craving. I do and I relive some of those moments of my childhood. Though much less a tactile experience, but its Scrabble all the same. :)

Reply
Armeen link
9/8/2012 05:39:41 pm

So true Sambit, we hardly play Scrabble anymore. It was such a popular game in our childhood.

Reply
Online games link
5/9/2012 07:47:39 pm

I enjoyed reading you post. I am sharing it with my other friends as the information is really very useful. Keep sharing your excellent work.

Reply
Urmilla
6/9/2012 04:56:20 pm

Thanks a lot for your comment. And a bigger thanks for sharing the blog. I guess everyone can do with a bit of nostalgia.

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    Authors

    Steta's founders, Urmilla Chandran and Armeen Kapadia author this blog. 

    We love letting our thoughts (crazy, stupid or smart) out for some fresh air.


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