11/14/19 Grif.Net - Mrs. Malaprop
Robert Griffin
Yesterday we looked at a “SPOONERISM”, occurring when corresponding sounds (consonants, vowels, or morphemes) in two words in an expression are switched. The effect is often humorous, as in Rev. Spooner’s sermon that spoke of the Lord as a “shoving leopard”.
A MALAPROPISM occurs when words that sound similar are substituted for each other. Etymologically, these are named after a fictional person, Mrs., Malaprop. She appears in Richard Brinsley Sheridan's play The Rivals (1775) who is noted for constantly committing malapropisms. Her name is derived from the French phrase mal à propos, meaning 'inappropriate', and is an example of an aptronym = a name that fits some aspect of a character.
Understandably, the humor that may be present in a malapropism only works if the audience understands and recognizes the misused and intended words. So the examples above might be a little highbrow for the present-day mass audiences.
Examples of “malapropism”:
He's as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile.' (i.e., alligator)
He is the very pineapple of politeness." (i.e., pinnacle)
If I reprehend anything in this world, it is the use of my oracular tongue, and a nice derangement of epitaphs!" (i.e., apprehend; vernacular; arrangement; epithets)
Alice said she couldn't eat crabs or any other crushed Asians. (crustaceans)
I have no delusions to the past. (allusions)
A rolling stone gathers no moths. (moss)
Having one wife is called monotony. (monogamy)
Dad says the monster is just a pigment of my imagination. (figment)
Tom is the very pineapple of politeness. (pinnacle)
I remember because I have photogenic memory. (photographic)
Examples of malapropisms made by well-known people:
"The police are not here to create disorder, they're here to preserve disorder." - Richard Daley, former mayor of Chicago
"Texas has a lot of electrical votes." (electoral votes) - Yogi Berra
"Be sure and put some of those neutrons on that salad." (croutons) - Mike Smith
"This is unparalyzed in the state's history." (unparelled) - Gib Lewis, Texas Speaker of the House
“I am mindful not only of preserving executive powers for myself, but for predecessors as well.” – George W. Bush
~~
Dr Bob Griffin
"Jesus Knows Me, This I Love!"