What is the word for when people get their words muddled up and say a word that has a totally different meaning to the one they mean? Like Ethel used to in Eastenders. I remember learning it in school, (a loooooooooong time ago!!), and it is driving me insane.
2007-05-19 02:32:33 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
A malapropism is the mistaken substitution of one word for a word that sounds similar, usually to comic effect. For example, saying "phony" instead of "funny".
A spoonerism is the reversal of two sounds. For example, saying "bill the speens" instead of "spill the beans".
An Freudian slip is when someone accidentally says something that is thought to reveal "what they really think". For example, calling your teacher "Mum".
It seems that malapropism is the word you are looking for.
2007-05-19 02:46:37 · answer #1 · answered by grammarhammer 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
It all depends if the result is an existing English word or not.
"An instance of misspeech is called a malapropism when:
- The word used means something different from the word (as indicated by the context in which the word was used) the speaker or writer intended to use.
- The word used sounds similar to the word that was apparently meant or intended. Using "obtuse" (wide or dull) instead of "acute" (narrow or sharp) is not a malapropism; using "obtuse" (stupid or slow-witted) when one means "abstruse" (esoteric or difficult to understand) would be.
- The word used has a recognized meaning in the speaker's or writer's language. Simply making up a word, or adding a redundant or ungrammatical prefix ("irregardless" instead of "regardless") or suffix ("subliminible" instead of "subliminal") to an existing word, does not qualify as a malapropism."
"You're very observant: the sacred and the propane."
"A spoonerism is a play on words in which corresponding consonants, vowels, or morphemes are switched."
"It is kisstomary to cuss the bride."
2007-05-19 10:03:43 · answer #2 · answered by Erik Van Thienen 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is Malaprop, this is where totally the wrong word is used, a spoonerism is where the initial letters or sounds of the words are mixed up which can be amusing a Freudian slip is where you may say the wrong think but it is likely that you said what you were thinking not what you meant to say
2007-05-19 09:50:55 · answer #3 · answered by Patsyanne 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
A Malapropism, from Mrs.Malaprop in "The Rivals". A Spoonerism is the substitution of first letters for each other eg Betty Swollocks (sorry) etc.
2007-05-19 09:37:05 · answer #4 · answered by mafille.mavie 5 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Malapropisms from Mrs Malaprop in Sheridan's 'The Rivals.'
"What are you incinerating?" (instead of insinuating.)
Nelly (Hilda Baker) in 'Nearest and Dearest' used to speak like that.
Spoonerisms are different, this is when initial letters are swapped around eg " Roaring with pain" for 'pouring with rain'.
Why the thumb down??? I am correct.
2007-05-19 09:56:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
A Spoonerism named after a Reverend Spooner who evidently filled his conversations with such mistakes but also was well aware of what he was doing at times and used them to devilish effect.
2007-05-19 09:38:45 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
"Freudian Slip" after the philosopher Freud, or possibly " A Spoonerism" after the Reverand Spooner.
2007-05-19 09:37:18 · answer #7 · answered by McCanns are guilty 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Spoonerisms.
2007-05-19 09:36:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Cyclone and Mafille are correct, and everyone else is wrong: it's called Malapropism.
Mmm, I wonder who gave the down-thumb to someone who knows the correct answer.
.
2007-05-19 09:45:42 · answer #9 · answered by abetterfate 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Are you referring to malapropism?
2007-05-19 09:36:59 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋