They are grouped in the family of sound alike statements that could easily be confused for the other, but are different in meaning. Technically, as one of the English purists and masters puts it, homophones are “words that sound familiar to one another but which have different meanings.” In most serious literature, Shakespeare’s Macbeth, for instance, homophones are often used as pun, observed by one English writer, Neil Wenborn. He went on to cite this example, just after Macbeth has murdered the sleeping Duncan, the domineering Lady Macbeth takes the bloody daggers from her husband and goes back into Duncan’s bedchamber in order to frame the murdered man’s attendants in this old Shakespearean English: “If he do bleed, I’ll gild the faces of the grooms withal, for it must seem their guilt.” In the word of the author, “guilt” here is a homophone of “gilt” (meaning thin layer of gold), the pun following on from the use of the word “gild” in the previous line.
Beyond the author’s definition of pun with regard to Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, the intriguing thing is the abysmal display of ignorance by the majority of those I prefer to call school boy writers or student learners who, in most cases than not, are led away or astray by this dangerous blind spot in English; the sound alike words, “fair” and “fare.” There are several of them which space would not permit us to carry to the full, or comprehensively. But we may settle for these ones as guide to lead us into discovering more of them, to avoid making the costly mistake of mixing up words; and that could be embarrassing, especially for the teachers, politicians and other high network individuals who may want to go solo without due consultations with those who know the trade in and out. I mean specialists in the use of the English vocabulary. I doubt if any one dares it now, with the plethora of reference books available to pick from.
The following, and mostly, one-syllable words should challenge us to dig deeper and unearth some of these slippery but similar in pronunciation expressions one should be mindful about, to stay afloat rather than sink so long as the language is concerned in usage and application aside from the adjective, “fair” and the verb, “fare” which some of us are familiar with. Others that are sometimes problematic include, the verbs, “die,” “dye,” the adjective, “vain,” and the noun, “vein” are the most pronounced or stands out phrases one should pause for a while, double check to be sure of the right choice of word. Taking a cue from Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, the “fair” adjective means to be just, not using dishonest methods to share or apportion offices, for example, or discriminate against the other based on sentiments that often breed discontent or conflict; to keep things in accordance to the rules, the dictionary explained.
Whereas, the noun counterpart, “fair” spelt the same, is a collection of sideshows and amusements; structures that are often set up temporarily on open ground, such as trade fairs held seasonally in designated places for exhibition of goods and services for people to sight and buy. The noun “fair” extends to bazaar; for instance, church harvest has bazaar as one of the main features. It also includes, carnival, exposition, festival, fete, funfair, gala among other forms of entertainment to raise funds, in some aspects to keep the society in shape. “Vain” and “vein” are often mistaken for one another. The adjective, “vain,” the reference material postulates, is having too much pride in one’s self or appearance, achievements, or possessions; to be conceited, having no useful effective or result, futile or worthless. Doing something in vain without success, fruitlessly. Futility or worthlessness.
In the words of the preacher, taken from the book Ecclesiastes, “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” The twin brother, vein (noun) refers to anatomy-any blood vessel that carries deoxygenated blood back towards the heart, the dictionary instructs; often written in sarcastic “vein,” a distinct character present throughout; streak. Vein and the synonyms; course, current, streak, stride and soon, add colour to everyday usage of the word.
