#Eggcorns

[lingthusiasm]

Bonus 88: Linguistic mixups - spoonerisms, mondegreens, and eggcorns

Have you ever misheard a song lyric like "got a long list of ex-lovers" as "Starbucks lovers"? Or maybe you've swapped some sounds around like "well-boiled icicle" for "well-oiled bicycle" or seen Alzheimer's Disease referred to by the more sensical, similar-sounding name "Old-timer's Disease". Mixups like these are not only fun to share examples of, but they also tell us things about how language works in our brains.

In this bonus episode of (ahem) Thing-Lusiasm, Lauren and Gretchen get enthusiastic about three of our favourite kinds of linguistic mixups: spoonerisms, mondegreens, and eggcorns. We talk about William Spooner, the Oxford prof from the 1800s that many spoonerisms are (falsely) attributed to, Lauren's very Australian 90s picture book of spoonerisms, the Scottish song "The Bonny Earl of Moray" which gave rise to the term mondegreen, why there are so many more mondegreens in older pop songs and folk songs than there are now, and how eggcorn is a double eggcorn (a mis-parsing of acorn, which itself is an eggcorn of oak-corn for akern). Listen to this episode about our favourite kinds of linguistic mixups, and get access to many more bonus episodes by supporting Lingthusiasm on Patreon.

[fyeahffa]

not winged

[paradoxcase]

@turtletotem:

I think you might mean "the down low," not "download"

That's definitely what they meant. Oh, what a fun eggcorn! It does kind of fit the imagery of downloading something from one brain to another, especially if you subscribe to a more peer-to-peer definition of "dowload".

[gehayi]

A video about eggcorns.

a word or phrase that results from mishearing or misinterpretation of another, an element of the original being substituted for one that sounds very similar or identical (e.g. tow the line instead of toe the line ).

[crowns-of-violets-and-roses]

I just saw someone use expatriot instead of expatriate

[uhhhhmanda]

PALATE = Literally, the roof of your mouth; figuratively, your sense of taste.

PALLET = The wooden thing forklifts stick their forks into (or a bed of similar construction).

PALETTE = The thing you mix paint on.

[zukriuchen]

eggcorns

[in-sufficientdata]

Eggcorns

Neologisms

Slang

Puns

Memetics

Humans constantly reshape and reform the language and I absolutely love that

My favorite thing ever is the fact that if you use a word and then other people like the word and start using the word it becomes a real word

It's like Pinocchio, but with information

Yes, Pinocchio, you too can be a real linguist

[tongue-tales]

Unravelling the Quirky World of Eggcorns: When Acorns Turn into Eggcorns

Have you ever encountered a linguistic gem that made you chuckle and reflect on the playful nature of language? I bet many of you have used the phrase "butt naked" without a second thought, and you're not alone! But, did you know that "butt naked" is actually an eggcorn? Yes, you read that right - an eggcorn!

Let's dive into this whimsical world of eggcorns and explore the fascinating tale behind "butt naked" and its correct form, "buck naked." The eggcorn may tickle our linguistic funny bone, but it's intriguing how it still makes sense when you think about it. After all, when you're naked, you are, quite literally, showing your butt!

Another delightful eggcorn, often heard from my students, is the misinterpretation of the idiom "off my own bat" as "off my own back." Students would proudly declare, "I'm attending your English class off my own back," meaning they choose to join voluntarily. When I correct them, explaining the cricketing origin of "off my own bat," referencing a lone batsman scoring against the opposing team, they sometimes meet me with incredulous looks, insisting, "Everyone says off my own back!" - a classic case of language change in action.

The intriguing aspect of eggcorns lies in their potential to become the accepted norm over time, shaped by widespread usage of the misheard version. Language is a dynamic entity, and eggcorns exemplify its fluid nature, adapting to the creativity of its users.

Eggcorn, a term coined by linguistics professor Geoffrey K. Pullum, finds its roots in the word "acorn." The logic behind this linguistic play is that people unfamiliar with the term "acorn" (from Old English æcern) may mistake it as a compound of "egg" and "corn" due to the size and shape of acorns. Thus, an eggcorn is a charming example of folk etymology, born out of an honest mistake.

The enchanting world of eggcorns reminds us that language is a living entity, continuously evolving and adapting to the creativity of its users. Like acorns that grow into majestic oaks, eggcorns breathe new life into our vocabulary, adding colour and charm to our everyday conversations.

So, the next time you hear "butt naked" or "off my own back," embrace the linguistic quirkiness and appreciate how these playful eggcorns enliven our language. After all, in the playful realm of words, even an acorn can turn into an eggcorn, and therein lies the magic of language!

[countesspetofi]

Today I saw a forum comment where the commenter mixed up "shoo-in" and "getting your foot in the door," and said someone was "trying to get her shoe-in the door."

[georgelthomas]

Muddled Phrases

Muddled Phrases #amwriting #WritingCommunity #writerslife #English #Language #WriterCommunity

Hello everyone, I hope you’re all well and that you’re all excelling in whatever it is you’re working towards in life. Today, I’m going to be talking about ‘muddled phrases’, or to give them their proper name, ‘eggcorns’. Eggcorns are common phrases that have been misinterpreted or misheard leading to their meanings being skewed. Below are a few of my favourites. 1 For All Intensive Purposes It’s…

[tea-blankets-andstars]

Marauders as things i have heard in school today

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marlene: *falls backwards off a table*

james: yass girl be the avalanche

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sirius: *says gen-alpha brain rot*

remus: you are the reason tide pods are child proof

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mary: its been two weeks and im still to scared to go to the bathroom, not for any perticular reason but like "what if" yk?

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james: DOGGGGGGGG

remus: it just pissed in the great room

sirius: OMG THERES ANOTHER ONE

remus: seriously why is there a loose dog in school

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*skittles wanting evan to sit in the back with them*

Evan: bitch i cant see shit

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lily: and this notebook is for homework, and this binder, and this folder, like WHY CANT WE JUST HAVE ONE FOLDER

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peter: i am confused. constantly. about nothing in particular. just generally confused.

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Regulus: guess what im doing when i get home

sirius: finally adding me in your contacts you little shit?!

regulus: no.

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james: its eggcorn season

lily: you mean acorn

james: eggcorn season

lily: its called an A.CORN

james: BUT ITS EGG SHAPED

lily: NO

james: EGG.CORN

-----

[thunder-wolf64]

More mildly perturbed Lapis Lazuli?!??! I needed to doodle to destress so this is kinda rough.

[risewriter]

ROTTMNT: Eggcorn

Tot Leo: Are ya ready to get your mind blown?!

Tot Mikey/Raph: Yeah!

Tot Leo: You know acorns, but do you know~! *Reveals egg with an acorn shell on top* EGGCORNS?

*Tot Mikey and Raph share a confused look*

Tot Donnie: *Snorts from the back*

Tot Leo: 1 outta 3!

Thank you @bon-appletea for sparking this idea with this image~!

[zombielesbean]

heres a brand new 'bone apple tea' courtesy of this comment on one of my drawings on deviantart

sorry to be at the barrier of bad news...

[delta-m]

Hoisting your own Picard or whatever.