Wood Chucks Chucking Wood

As a beginning teacher, in an effort to encourage reticent students to ask questions, I had them begin the term by submitting a written question as part of a brief, first‑day writing assignment.  I still use this strategy.  I learn a lot about my students by the questions they ask, and they learn a lot about me by the answers I give. 

 

One semester early in my teaching career, a freshman asked the classic, "How much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood?"  This question appealed to my own imagination, so as an exercise, I assigned the question to my two sections of freshman English. 

 

One challenge of the assignment for me was to explain it to the non‑native English speakers in the classes.  I had to explain that it was not a serious question, but a fun one, and I had to make sure they understood all the words.  A second challenge for the students in general was understanding the literal question.  Many students had to look up the word “chuck”.  In the context of the sentence, some thought it meant "eat" or "store," rather than "toss" or "throw." 

 

 One of the more clever students took a methodical approach to the question.  Starting with the size of a cord of wood, he estimated by body weight and size how much wood a woodchuck possibly could chuck.  (Sadly, I do not remember his exact calculation.)  Other students, befuddled by the question, researched woodchucks and discovered that they are also known as groundhogs, are a kind of marmot--which is a burrowing rodent--and they are part of the squirrel family. 

 

Intrigued, I decided to take a linguistic approach to the question, which is technically a tongue twister.  In my research, I discovered that tongue twisters are more than mere wordplay.  Many are passed down over generations in families.  Tongue twisters serve practical purposes.  Funk & Wagnall's Dictionary of Folklore, Mythology, and Legend informs that dentists use tongue twisters to test dental work, such as dentures.  Tongue twisters are also helpful in diagnosing speech impediments, or treating speech impediments such as stammering or lisping.  Sometimes directors use them to test enunciation in stage auditions or for radio announcers. Tongue twisters also serve as warm‑up exercises for singers.  According to folklore, tongue twisters can cure hiccoughs.

 
This assignment originated as a fun and unique exercise in research, working with sources, and understanding meaning.  However, it had added benefits, showing that often one can approach a subject in a number of different ways.  It illustrated the difference between understanding literal meaning as opposed to more abstract concepts.  As one who now heats with wood in the winter, I have developed a whole new respect for woodchucks and chucking wood.