Video Broadcast : #177
January 6, 2021

Text Update : January 8, 2021

Introduction

• Crossword Puzzle
  Various levels of complexity
• Lexicon
  Card Game
• Anagram
  Making new words and phrases from the given word
  e.g. North, South, East and West can be transformed into Thorn, Shout, Seat and Stew
• Jumbled Words
  Feature of a newspaper column
• Scrabble

Scrabble

• Scrabble is a board game.
• A game can be played by two to four players.
• There are a specified number of tiles.
• Each tile holds a letter worth one to ten points, or a “blank” (similar to a “joker” or a “wild card” in card games).

Rules

• The word must appear in the official set of dictionaries (e.g. Chamber’s Dictionary, Jone’s Pronouncing Dictionary).
• A player can challenge the validity of a word.
  He or she will forfeit a turn if the challenge is unsuccessful.
• A bonus of 50 points is given for a word formed with all seven tiles. e.g. MAJESTY
• In some contests, adding “s” to a singular to make it plural is disallowed.

Scrabble Tournaments

In our younger days, Scrabble tournaments were held by

• Guardian Newspaper
  P. (Paul) Aung Khin (Editor, “Dawlay’s Circle”) was a host.
  There was a “Tiger” Scrabble team with U Tin Shwe, U Ba U and their friend.
  One of the Tigers joined Saya Des Rodgers to play Doubles.
• RIT Scrabble Club
  Saya Des and Saya U Khin were hosts.
• YMCA
  Known for the Chess Champions (e.g. Saya Dawson).
  Hosted Scrabble tournaments.

Saya Des Rodgers won several trophies. Most of the English sayas (e.g. U Khin) and sayamas (e.g. Daw Toni) played Scrabble along with the students such as Ko Myo Tun (Bobby) and Ko Khin Maung Win (Roland). Civil Engineering sayas (e.g. U Tin Win) also frequent the English Department for Scrabble sessions and tournaments.

Saya U Khin has Chamber’s Dictionary and Jone’s Pronouncing Dictionary on his desk for use in the challenges.

Update of RIT Scrabble Players

• Saya Des moved to UK and then Canada.
• Saya U Khin moved to Taiwan.
• Sayama Toni joined her husband U Nyi Than (who retired as Ambassador).
  After his demise, Sayama moved back to Yangon.
  She attends and/or host gatherings (sumptuous food and Scrabble) in Yangon.
• Bobby is now Ashin Pannagavesaka (Former Dhamma Librarian, Pa Auk Tawya monastery in Mawlamyine).
  Bobby mentioned that Paul requested him to be a judge at the Guardian Scrabble tournaments, so he could not participate.
• Roland retired after working for an Embassy in Yangon.