Why Is It Spelled “Pet Sematary” and Not “Cemetery?”

The spelling of “Pet Sematary” instead of “Pet Cemetery” is a deliberate choice by Stephen King to reflect realism and the phonetic spelling of a child, which adds to the story’s unsettling atmosphere. At PETS.EDU.VN, we explore the nuances of language and its impact, offering insights into animal care, behavior, and the stories that touch our hearts. Learn more about pet care, pet behavior and explore heartwarming stories on PETS.EDU.VN.

1. The Realism of “Sematary”

Stephen King’s decision to spell “cemetery” as “sematary” in his novel Pet Sematary is a powerful example of realism in writing. Realism, in this context, means accurately representing real life, including the imperfections and idiosyncrasies of language use.

• Child’s Perspective: The story involves a young child who spells “cemetery” phonetically on a sign. Without a dictionary or formal education, the child relies on how the word sounds to them, resulting in the misspelling “sematary.”
• Authenticity: This choice adds a layer of authenticity to the narrative. It reflects how a child might approach spelling, capturing the innocence and vulnerability that are central themes in the book.
• Eerie Tone: The misspelling also contributes to the overall eerie and unsettling tone of the story. It suggests something is slightly off, hinting at the supernatural elements at play.

2. Etymological Roots of “Cemetery”

To understand why “sematary” stands out, it’s helpful to look at the etymological roots of the word “cemetery.” This word has a long and fascinating history, evolving through multiple languages over centuries.

• Middle English: In Middle English, the word was spelled “cimitery.”
• Anglo-French: This spelling comes from the Anglo-French term “cimiterie.”
• Late Latin: The Anglo-French term derives from the Late Latin “cimiterium” and “coemeterium.”
• Greek: Ultimately, the word originates from the Greek “koimētērion,” meaning “sleeping chamber,” and the verb “koiman,” meaning “to put to sleep.”

This evolution shows how language changes over time, with words adapting and transforming as they pass from one culture to another. Given this complex history, it’s perhaps easier to understand how a child might misspell “cemetery.”

3. Phonetic Justification for “Sematary”

While “sematary” is not the correct spelling, there is a phonetic logic to it. By examining the sounds within the word “cemetery,” we can see how a child might arrive at the alternative spelling.

• C to S: The replacement of “c” with “s” is understandable because the letter “c” is pronounced as s when followed by “e,” as in the word “cent.”
• E to A: The substitution of “e” with “a” occurs because the middle vowel in “cemetery” is pronounced as a schwa.
  • Schwa Sound: A schwa is a mid-central unrounded vowel. “Mid” means the tongue is neither particularly high nor low in the mouth. “Central” means the tongue is neither particularly near the front nor the back of the mouth. “Unrounded” means the lips are not rounded during pronunciation.
  • Schwa Examples: The schwa sound is found in unstressed syllables and can be represented by any of the letters “a,” “e,” “i,” “o,” “u,” and “y.” The word “above” has a schwa in both syllables.
• ER to AR: The penultimate sound er can be spelled with either an “a” (as in “dictionary”) or an “e” (as in “berry”). The child, unfamiliar with the correct spelling, chose “ar.”
• Y Ending: The spelling concludes with “y,” which often ends multisyllabic words with a long “e” sound, such as “baby” or “happy.”

4. “Sematary” in Different Contexts

While “sematary” is primarily known as a misspelling, it’s interesting to consider how it might function in other contexts.

• Adjective Form: Hypothetically, “sematary” could serve as an adjective form using the suffix “-ary,” meaning “of, relating to, or connected with.” This would be related to the noun “sematology,” which is the study of word meanings.
• Synonym for “Sematic”: It could also be used as a synonym for “sematic,” meaning “serving as a warning of danger,” often used to describe the conspicuous colors of poisonous animals.
• Root in “Sēma”: Both “sematology” and “sematic” derive from the Greek “sēma,” meaning “sign.”

These alternative interpretations highlight the flexibility of language and how words can take on different meanings depending on the context.

5. Thematic Significance in Pet Sematary

Beyond the linguistic aspects, the spelling “sematary” carries significant thematic weight in Stephen King’s novel. It reinforces the story’s themes of innocence lost, the corruption of childhood, and the blurring of the line between life and death.

• Loss of Innocence: The misspelling suggests a child’s naive understanding of death and burial, contrasting with the dark and disturbing events that unfold in the story.
• Distorted Reality: The altered spelling reflects the distorted reality of the pet cemetery, where the laws of nature are twisted, and the dead do not stay dead.
• Psychological Impact: The word “sematary” becomes associated with fear, grief, and the psychological toll of facing mortality, particularly the mortality of loved ones.

Pet Sematary book cover featuring the misspelled title "Pet Sematary"

6. Common Misspellings and Phonetic Spelling in Language

“Sematary” is a great example of how phonetic spelling can result in common misspellings. Here are some other common examples:

Phonetic spelling occurs because people rely on how words sound rather than their written form. This is especially common among young children and those learning a new language.

7. The Use of Misspellings in Literature and Pop Culture

Misspellings are often used intentionally in literature and pop culture to achieve various effects.

• Character Development: Misspellings can indicate a character’s level of education, social background, or cognitive abilities.
• Humor: They can be used for comedic effect, highlighting a character’s ignorance or naivety.
• Atmosphere: As in Pet Sematary, misspellings can create a sense of unease or otherworldliness.
• Social Commentary: They can also be used to comment on social issues, such as literacy rates or cultural biases.

Examples:

• Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Twain uses misspellings and dialect to realistically portray the speech patterns of characters from different social classes.
• George Orwell’s Animal Farm: The pigs’ manipulation of language, including misspellings, reflects their control over the other animals.

8. The Psychology of Spelling Errors

Why do people make spelling errors, even when they know the correct spelling? There are several psychological factors that contribute to this phenomenon.

• Cognitive Load: When writing, people are often focused on generating ideas and structuring their thoughts. This can leave less cognitive resources available for paying attention to spelling.
• Phonological Interference: The way a word sounds can interfere with the way it’s spelled, especially if the spelling is irregular or deviates from phonetic norms.
• Visual Processing: People sometimes misspell words because they have a weak visual representation of the word in their memory.
• Typographical Errors: Simple typos, such as transposing letters or hitting the wrong key, are common sources of spelling errors, especially when typing quickly.

9. How Language Evolves and Changes Over Time

Language is constantly evolving, with new words being created, old words falling out of use, and the meanings of existing words shifting over time.

• Social and Cultural Influences: Social and cultural changes drive linguistic evolution. New technologies, social movements, and global events can all lead to changes in language.
• Technological Impact: The internet and social media have had a profound impact on language, leading to the emergence of new forms of communication, such as emojis and internet slang.
• Regional Variations: Language varies from one region to another, with different dialects and accents emerging over time.
• Generational Differences: Each generation develops its own unique linguistic styles and preferences, which can contribute to language change.

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FAQ about “Pet Sematary”

1. Why did Stephen King misspell “cemetery” in the title Pet Sematary?
Stephen King misspelled “cemetery” as “sematary” to reflect how a child might phonetically spell the word, adding realism and a sense of unease to the story.

2. Is the spelling “sematary” ever correct?
No, “sematary” is not a correct spelling in standard English. It is intentionally used as a misspelling in Stephen King’s novel.

3. What does “cemetery” mean?
A cemetery is a place specifically designated for the burial or entombment of the dead.

4. What are some other examples of phonetic spelling?
Some examples of phonetic spelling include “Febuary” for February, “libary” for library, and “expresso” for espresso.

5. How does the misspelling contribute to the story’s themes?
The misspelling reinforces themes of innocence lost, the corruption of childhood, and the blurring of the line between life and death.

6. How did the word “cemetery” evolve over time?
The word “cemetery” evolved from the Greek “koimētērion,” meaning “sleeping chamber,” to Late Latin “cimiterium” and Anglo-French “cimiterie,” before becoming “cemetery” in English.

7. What is a schwa, and how does it relate to the spelling of “sematary”?
A schwa is a mid-central unrounded vowel sound, which is often represented by the letter “a” in unstressed syllables. The “a” in “sematary” reflects this schwa sound in the middle syllable of “cemetery.”

8. Why do people make spelling errors even when they know the correct spelling?
Spelling errors can occur due to cognitive load, phonological interference, weak visual memory of the word, or simple typographical errors.

9. How does language evolve and change over time?
Language evolves through social and cultural influences, technological advancements, regional variations, and generational differences.

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