What is Spoonerism?
1.
When the spellings/pronounciation of a sentance move around slightly.
Let us drink to the dear old queen!
Let us drink to the queer old dean!
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2.
Transposing the letters of two words to form new ones.
Usually done when you are talking faster than your brain can keep up with.
An unfortunate spoonerism:
The gymnasts displayed some cunning stunts.
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3.
A word or phrase created by swapping the initial letters (or first consonant sounds) of two words or syllables to get a new word word or phrase. The spelling doesn't have to be correct, only the pronounciation is important. The term "spoonerism" was named after Reverend W.A. Spooner (1844-1930).
Not to be confused with
- "Peas and carrots" is a spoonerism of "keys and parrots"
- "tea bags" becomes "bee tags"
- "trail mix" becomes "mail tricks"
- "Save the whales" becomes "wave the sails"
- "forearm" becomes "oar farm"
4.
A humourous phrase where the first letters of 2 parts are reversed. Named after Rev. Spooner.
"This way Madam, and I'll sew you to your sheets" (= show you to your seats).
5.
- the unintentional transportation of sounds or of parts of words in speaking
"half-warmed fish"
for
"half-formed wish"
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6.
Transposing inappropriate begginnings on two different words.
Jordan made the ultimate spoonerism today when he said, "They were ligging the erections."
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7.
When you switch the first 2 letters of 2 words around to form a new phrase.
Here's a spoonerism:
Cloudy hit.
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