Eggcorn
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In linguistics, an eggcorn is an idiosyncratic substitution of a word or phrase for a word or words that sound similar or identical in the speaker's dialect. The new phrase introduces a meaning that is different from the original, but plausible in the same context ("old-timers' disease" for "Alzheimer's disease"). This is as opposed to a malapropism, where the substitution creates a nonsensical phrase. Classical malapropisms generally derive their comic effect from the fault of the user, whilst eggcorns are errors that exhibit creativity or logic.[1] Eggcorns often involve replacing an unfamiliar, archaic, or obscure word with a more common or modern word ("baited breath" for "bated breath").[2]
The term "eggcorn" was coined by Geoffrey Pullum in September 2003, in response to an article by Mark Liberman on the website Language Log, a blog for linguists.[3] Liberman discussed the case of a woman who substitutes the phrase egg corn for the word acorn, arguing that the precise phenomenon lacked a name; Pullum suggested using "eggcorn" itself.
[edit] Examples
- for all intensive purposes instead of for all intents and purposes[4]
- hone in instead of home in[5]
- just desserts instead of just deserts[6]
- old timers' disease instead of Alzheimer's disease [7]
- on tenderhooks instead of on tenterhooks[8]
- on the spurt of the moment instead of on the spur of the moment[1]
- once and a while instead of once in a while[9]
- pot marks instead of pockmarks [10]
- preying mantis instead of praying mantis[11]
- sore grapes instead of sour grapes[12]
- splashy instead of plashy[13]
- tow the line instead of toe the line[14]
- wanton to do instead of wont to do [15] [10]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Peters, Mark (Mar/April 2006). "Word Watch: The Eggcorn -- Lend Me Your Ear". Psychology Today 39 (2): p.18. http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20060214-000002.html. Retrieved on 2006-07-13.
- ^ Staff (2006-08-26). "The word: Eggcorns". New Scientist. pp. 52. http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/mg19125662.000-the-word-eggcorns.html. Retrieved on 2006-12-21. LexisNexis link
- ^ Erard, Michael (June 20, 2006). "Analyzing Eggcorns and Snowclones, and Challenging Strunk and White". New York Times. pp. 4. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/20/science/20lang.html?ex=1308456000&en=76bbb00d355e9796&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
- ^ The Eggcorn Database » intensive purposes
- ^ The Eggcorn Database » hone see also Language Log: Homing in on 'honing in on,' Jan 24, 2004 and Language Log: "Hone in on" before "home in on"?, Nov 3, 2005
- ^ The Eggcorn Database » dessert
- ^ Eggcorn Forum / Alzheimer's Disease not Old Timers Disease
- ^ The Eggcorn Database » tenderhooks
- ^ The Eggcorn Database » once and a while
- ^ a b Language Log: Eggcorn news flashes April 9, 2007
- ^ The Eggcorn Database » prey
- ^ Eggcorn Forum / sore grapes << sour grapes
- ^ Saner, Emine (2006-10-05). "Tiny eggcorns, mighty gaffes". The Guardian. pp. 2. http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1887732,00.html. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
- ^ Quinion, Michael (2004-01-17). "World Wide Words: Toe the line". World Wide Words. http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-toe2.htm. Retrieved on 2008-09-26. See also The Eggcorn Database
- ^ Freeman, Jan (2007-04-08). "Wanton Eggcorns". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/04/08/wanton_eggcorns/. Retrieved on 2006-07-13.
[edit] Further reading
- Liberman, Mark, and Geoffrey K. Pullum. (2006) Far from the Madding Gerund and Other Dispatches from Language Log. Wilsonville, OR: William, James & Co.
- Liberman, Mark. (2003-09-23) "Egg corns: folk etymology, malapropism, mondegreen, ???" Language Log (weblog) Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- Peters, Mark. (2006-08-09) "Like a Bowl in a China Shop." The Chronicle of Higher Education: Chronicle Careers. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
- "How the Web Is Changing Language." Talk of the Nation (radio program), 2006-06-28.
- "Yours sins nearly." New Scientist 2570, 2006-09-23. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
