A.WORD.A.Daywith ANU GARG

Mondegreen A.WORD.A.DAY with ANU GARG MEANING noun: A word or phrase result- ing from mishearing a word or phrase, Courtesy of Anu Garg, curator of A.Word.A.Day at wordsmith.org, here is a week’s worth of especially in song lyrics, e.g., “e girl terms and origins for linguistic errors. Whether you’re a professional editor or just a lover with colitis goes by” for “e girl with of words, you can subscribe for free. The New York Times describes it as “the most welcomed, kaleidoscope eyes” in the Beatles song most enduring piece of daily mass e-mail in cyberspace.” “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.” ETYMOLOGY Coined by author Sylvia Wright when she misinterpreted the line “laid him on the green” as “Lady Monde- Most of us stub our toes or run into Freudian Slip green” in the Scottish ballad “e Bonny a glass door from time to time, though Earl of Murray.” Earliest documented use some of us are more prone to this than MEANING noun: An error that reveals is from 1954. others. e same works with language. someone’s subconscious mind, e.g., We make errors. Sometimes these are “I wish you were her” instead of “I wish USAGE “Since I live in ailand, the most funny. Here, we’ve collected ve words to you were here.” meaningful mondegreen for me was my describe such missteps. own mishearing of a line from e Jam’s Even though these are called slips of ETYMOLOGY After Sigmund Freud 'Eton Ries'. Instead of the correct ‘What the tongue, “slips of the brain” may be (1856–1939), neurologist and founder chance do you have against a tie and a more appropriate. e tongue does only of psychoanalysis, who proposed the crest?’ for years I heard ‘What chance do what the brain asks it to do. idea that errors in speech, writing, etc., you have against a ai in a dress?’” Share your own examples in our reveal what is in one’s subconscious mind. Richard Watson Todd; Much online forum Wordsmith Talk or email Earliest documented use is from 1959. Ado About English; Nicholas Brealey [email protected]. Publishing; May 1, 2007. USAGE “e Freudian slip is invoked to explain some strange and embarrassing Eggcorn behavior. ‘Nice to beat you,’ smiles a Spoonerism woman when she meets the ex-girlfriend MEANING noun: An erroneous alteration of of her husband.” MEANING noun: e transposition of a word or phrase, by replacing an original Jena Pincott; “Terrorized by the (usually) the initial sounds of words word with a similar-sounding word, such Tongue”; Psychology Today (New York); producing a humourous result: that the new word or phrase also makes a March/April 2012. “It is now kisstomary to cuss the bride.” kind of sense, e.g., “ex-patriot” instead of (Spooner while ociating at a wedding) “expatriate” and “mating name” instead “Is the bean dizzy?” (Spooner of “maiden name.” Malapropism questioning the secretary of his dean) ETYMOLOGY Coined by linguist Georey MEANING noun: e humourous misuse ETYMOLOGY After William Archibald Pullum (b. 1945) in 2003. From the of a word by confusing it with a similar- Spooner (1844–1930), clergyman and substitution of the word “acorn” with sounding word, e.g., “pineapple of educator, who was prone to this. Earliest “eggcorn.” Earliest documented use as perfection” for “pinnacle of perfection.” documented use is from 1900. a name for this phenomenon is from 2003, though the term “eggcorn” has ETYMOLOGY After Mrs. Malaprop, a char- USAGE “As for her own red-faced moment been found going back as far as 1844, acter in Richard Sheridan’s play e Rivals on air, Hudson recalled how she coined a as “egg corn bread” for “acorn bread.” (1775), who confused words in this manner. somewhat racy spoonerism in a reference Earliest documented use is from 1830. to Killorglin’s Puck Fair.” USAGE “Will eggcorns continue to hatch? Seán McCárthaigh; “AA Roadwatch is is a moot point (or is that mute?). USAGE “Mayor omas Menino is some- Broadcasters Celebrate 21 Years”; Irish Yet certainly anyone waiting with times made fun of for his malapropisms; Examiner (Cork, Ireland); Aug. 31, 2010. ‘baited’ (bated) breath for ‘whole scale’ he once said the city’s parking shortage (wholesale) changes may need to wait was ‘an Alcatraz [albatross] around my A THOUGHT FOR TODAY a while.” neck’.” Language is a city to the building of Bill & Rich Sones; “If Elevator Falls, Katharine Q. Seelye; “Ailing Mayor which every human being brought a Don’t Jump to Conclusions”; Salt Lake of Boston Says He’s Still Up to the Job”; stone. — Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer Telegram (Utah); July 3, 2008. e New York Times; Dec. 17, 2012. and philosopher (1803–82) Active Voice / Voix active AUTUMN / AUTOMNE 2013.

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