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One of the comments we got in our Weekend Word Wrap on malapropisms was from a reader named Leslie who semi-suggested we tackle the subject of spoonerisms, as well.
But before we get to Revered Spooner, let’s first go back to antiquity, because that’s where the trouble starts.
The Romans took the Greek hero Herakles, transposed the inner part of the word, and started calling him Hercules (sort of the way many of us say nucular instead of nuclear), thus creating what’s known as a metathesis. Now I don’t mind a metathesis like nucular, but so much as mumble the word excetera for etcetera and I’m liable to start searching around the room for a large mallet. (I’ve often wondered if they abbreviate it ect. instead of etc.)
A spoonerism is also a kind of metathesis, only instead of switching parts of the word, the beginnings of two separate words get flop flipped. The trick here, of course, is that the resulting new order must make sense. It’s not enough just to thype tusly, because that’s plain silly, right?
The word “spoonerism” was coined by a British albino educationalist and Anglican clergyman named William Archibald Spooner (1844-1930), whose mind worked faster than his tongue. As a result, he’d wind up raising a toast to Her Royal Highness, Queen Victoria, by proclaiming, “Three cheers for our queer old dean!”
Many people, like Dr. Spooner, have a tendency to switch parts of words around when they become nervous or agitated. I recall being on a first date once, palms sweating, anxious to say all the right things, and muttering, “Yeah, but who for can get that?” Not a pure spoonerism, but close. Here are some of my favorites — and as usual, we’d love to hear yours.
Rental Deceptionist
Cop porn
Sword witch
You’ve tasted two worms
Lack of pies
Comments (12)
Comment
my pet peeve is those who say expresso instead of espresso…
posted by Susan on 8-18-2006 at 1:16 pm
I see your expresso, Susan, and raise you a comfterble!
posted by David on 8-18-2006 at 1:53 pm
I notice that I do that more with time than with words. Is there a technical name for that? I mean besides, dummy. :)
posted by paperback writer on 8-18-2006 at 2:12 pm
Shel Silverstein did a whole book of Spoonerism poetry. Very fun to try and read outloud.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060256532/sr=8-1/qid=1155925001/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-4046393-7621533?ie=UTF8
posted by Eli on 8-18-2006 at 2:21 pm
The offspring of Brad and Angelina has an unfortunate name for this sort of thing… poor Shiloh Pitt.
posted by Adam on 8-18-2006 at 6:45 pm
one of my favorites:
a well-boiled icicle.
and my own spoonerism:
when i was a kid, i came inside after a big winter snowstorm and excitedly told my mother “we’ve been snowing throwballs!”
posted by kuanes on 8-18-2006 at 8:02 pm
Spoonerisms? Aren’t those when you get one word nuthered up with a mother?
My favorite was “When perusing the Complete Shirks of Wakespeare, you should never need it in the rude.”
A friend called these “train bubbles”, which got me in trouble as I thought that was another term for a training bra.
Live and learn, I guess.
posted by Thursday on 8-19-2006 at 1:58 am
Love these! You guys fever nail to amuse and entertain!
posted by David on 8-19-2006 at 1:18 pm
Man, I must be slightly retarded cause say these allll the time. My first one that comes to dinner was after a school dance late at night at a Steak n Shake and I decided to order some Ficken Chingers.
But one that I hate the most is the
“Can I ax you a question?”
I don’t look for a small mallet, I look for a big gun haha.
posted by Matt on 8-19-2006 at 11:21 pm
This may not fit entirely, but it’s too good a story to share.
My mom used to work for an electric company. One time a customer called complaining about the lack of electricity, and my mom told her they were fixing it and were at her place right now. To prove it, my mom went to tell her to look outside, but instead told the woman to “Take a leak out the window,” combining “look” and “peak.” My poor mother was confused when the woman hung up on her. :)
posted by Kate on 8-20-2006 at 4:29 pm
Whoops, something went missing when I hit submit.
My mom combined “leak” and “peak,” and was confused when the woman hung up on her.
The internet is stealing my sentences. :)
posted by Kate on 8-20-2006 at 4:30 pm
My entire family always talked what we called “bass ackwards”, so we have many.
But my favorite is still “Flicks and Teas” instead of “Ticks and Fleas”.
(We always had lots of pets too.)
One thing about spoonerisms, once you get started saying them, you never go back. :)
posted by Vicki on 8-21-2006 at 3:12 pm