I know right

At three years old, I laid in bed one night practicing how to emphasize different syllables. I wanted—needed—a drink of water. So, to make sure mom and dad were clear on just how badly I needed this water, I began...

I want a drink of water.
i WANT a drink of water.
i want A drink of water.
i want a DRINK of water.
i want a drink OF water.
i want a drink of WAter.
i want a drink of waTER.

It didn’t work. Mom and dad just lied in bed in the next room laughing at their daughter, who, clearly, at a very young age was living in a world of words.

I should have known I’d be an English major, constantly wondering about words and what they could mean if used—emphasized—in different ways.

I recently got the text message: “I know right.”

I DO know, actually. What I know is that this person was not telling me that he, in fact, knew right, and I knew wrong. This was not a declaration, but rather a rhetorical question. One in which “right” is said with an inflection that makes it a question. I know, right? Like, can you believe that? I’m for real. Rather than proclaiming superiority, he was actually trying to build camaraderie—we’re in this together, thinking this is crazy. And even if he had added the question mark at the end, it still wouldn't have worked. I may have thought he was asking me if HE knew right? You talkin' to ME? I know right?

I chuckled to myself thinking about the importance of stressing the appropriate syllable. Saying what you mean isn’t always going to cut it, especially with texting. You better stress what you mean or know what be stressin’! To which you say, I know right.