Mixing
Word for when we accidentally invert the syllabic utterances of words?
Today, during a conversation, one of my friends accidentally inverted the syllables of the word "bookmarks" as "markbooks." Then I immediately thought about describing such a mistake in speaking.
I asked my elder brother, who suggested I regard it as stuttering. But sadly, this word doesn't fit well for what I am asking over here, since stuttering denotes the repetition of sounds pertaining to just initial consonants:
verb
1. talk with continued involuntary repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants.
See the following image about stuttering:
In the image above, there's talk of the word "soda", which is written as s-s-s-s-soda to express stuttering.
There might be a word describing the inversion of syllabic utterance of words.
"He said 'markbooks' rather than saying 'bookmarks' because of _____ [in place of the word 'stuttering']"
The word I am asking for here can be a verb (an act of doing what I described here), or noun or noun-phrase to describe such an accidental act.
My question is different from "Is there a term for switching syllables of words?". In that post, the OP's primary question is about the exchange of two different syllables belonging to two different words; as his first example tells "trace" and "race", which are different and both having their own distinct syllables. Whereas my question is about the exchange of syllables within the same word and without dropping any letter(s) of words e.g.:
bookmarks > markbooks
clockwise > wiseclock
Textbook > booktext
single-word-requests phrase-requests verbs
edited Jan 8 at 16:15
psmears
13.1k14658
asked Jan 8 at 13:44
AhmedAhmed
3,65412052
add a comment |
Today, during a conversation, one of my friends accidentally inverted the syllables of the word "bookmarks" as "markbooks." Then I immediately thought about describing such a mistake in speaking.
I asked my elder brother, who suggested I regard it as stuttering. But sadly, this word doesn't fit well for what I am asking over here, since stuttering denotes the repetition of sounds pertaining to just initial consonants:
verb
1. talk with continued involuntary repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants.
See the following image about stuttering:
In the image above, there's talk of the word "soda", which is written as s-s-s-s-soda to express stuttering.
There might be a word describing the inversion of syllabic utterance of words.
"He said 'markbooks' rather than saying 'bookmarks' because of _____ [in place of the word 'stuttering']"
The word I am asking for here can be a verb (an act of doing what I described here), or noun or noun-phrase to describe such an accidental act.
My question is different from "Is there a term for switching syllables of words?". In that post, the OP's primary question is about the exchange of two different syllables belonging to two different words; as his first example tells "trace" and "race", which are different and both having their own distinct syllables. Whereas my question is about the exchange of syllables within the same word and without dropping any letter(s) of words e.g.:
bookmarks > markbooks
clockwise > wiseclock
Textbook > booktext
single-word-requests phrase-requests verbs
edited Jan 8 at 16:15
psmears
13.1k14658
asked Jan 8 at 13:44
AhmedAhmed
3,65412052
5
Related (but French): Verlan.
– Glorfindel
Jan 8 at 13:46
@Glorfindel, the Wikipedia states differently about what I am asking here. As the website says "verlan often drops the final vowel sound after the word is inverted, so femme and flic become meuf and keuf, respectively." // but here my question is not about dropping of any consonants or vowels.
– Ahmed
Jan 8 at 13:56
1
Possible duplicate of Is there a term for switching syllables of words?
– BruceWayne
Jan 8 at 15:05
1
@Ahmed I see that you amended your question with clarification about what kind of switch you're asking. There's no special word to distinguish your very specific situation from the other very specific situations. Hyperbaton is for word order swaps, spoonerism is for initial sounds of words, metathesis is for any kind of otherwise unspecified swap (but usually for phonemes).
– Mitch
Jan 8 at 16:22
1
@Ahmed In your example sentence, it looks like you're searching for a speech impediment, can that be right? "He said 'markbooks' rather than 'bookmarks' because of his dyslexia." But there are no names for the specific form of dyslexia where you exchange syllables, I believe.
– Mr Lister
Jan 9 at 11:31
add a comment |
Today, during a conversation, one of my friends accidentally inverted the syllables of the word "bookmarks" as "markbooks." Then I immediately thought about describing such a mistake in speaking.
I asked my elder brother, who suggested I regard it as stuttering. But sadly, this word doesn't fit well for what I am asking over here, since stuttering denotes the repetition of sounds pertaining to just initial consonants:
verb
1. talk with continued involuntary repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants.
See the following image about stuttering:
In the image above, there's talk of the word "soda", which is written as s-s-s-s-soda to express stuttering.
There might be a word describing the inversion of syllabic utterance of words.
"He said 'markbooks' rather than saying 'bookmarks' because of _____ [in place of the word 'stuttering']"
The word I am asking for here can be a verb (an act of doing what I described here), or noun or noun-phrase to describe such an accidental act.
My question is different from "Is there a term for switching syllables of words?". In that post, the OP's primary question is about the exchange of two different syllables belonging to two different words; as his first example tells "trace" and "race", which are different and both having their own distinct syllables. Whereas my question is about the exchange of syllables within the same word and without dropping any letter(s) of words e.g.:
bookmarks > markbooks
clockwise > wiseclock
Textbook > booktext
single-word-requests phrase-requests verbs
edited Jan 8 at 16:15
psmears
13.1k14658
asked Jan 8 at 13:44
AhmedAhmed
3,65412052
Today, during a conversation, one of my friends accidentally inverted the syllables of the word "bookmarks" as "markbooks." Then I immediately thought about describing such a mistake in speaking.
I asked my elder brother, who suggested I regard it as stuttering. But sadly, this word doesn't fit well for what I am asking over here, since stuttering denotes the repetition of sounds pertaining to just initial consonants:
verb
1. talk with continued involuntary repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants.
See the following image about stuttering:
In the image above, there's talk of the word "soda", which is written as s-s-s-s-soda to express stuttering.
There might be a word describing the inversion of syllabic utterance of words.
"He said 'markbooks' rather than saying 'bookmarks' because of _____ [in place of the word 'stuttering']"
The word I am asking for here can be a verb (an act of doing what I described here), or noun or noun-phrase to describe such an accidental act.
My question is different from "Is there a term for switching syllables of words?". In that post, the OP's primary question is about the exchange of two different syllables belonging to two different words; as his first example tells "trace" and "race", which are different and both having their own distinct syllables. Whereas my question is about the exchange of syllables within the same word and without dropping any letter(s) of words e.g.:
bookmarks > markbooks
clockwise > wiseclock
Textbook > booktext
single-word-requests phrase-requests verbs
single-word-requests phrase-requests verbs
edited Jan 8 at 16:15
psmears
13.1k14658
asked Jan 8 at 13:44
AhmedAhmed
3,65412052
edited Jan 8 at 16:15
psmears
13.1k14658
asked Jan 8 at 13:44
AhmedAhmed
3,65412052
edited Jan 8 at 16:15
psmears
13.1k14658
edited Jan 8 at 16:15
psmears
13.1k14658
edited Jan 8 at 16:15
psmears
13.1k14658
13.1k14658
asked Jan 8 at 13:44
AhmedAhmed
3,65412052
asked Jan 8 at 13:44
AhmedAhmed
3,65412052
asked Jan 8 at 13:44
AhmedAhmed
3,65412052
3,65412052
5
Related (but French): Verlan.
– Glorfindel
Jan 8 at 13:46
@Glorfindel, the Wikipedia states differently about what I am asking here. As the website says "verlan often drops the final vowel sound after the word is inverted, so femme and flic become meuf and keuf, respectively." // but here my question is not about dropping of any consonants or vowels.
– Ahmed
Jan 8 at 13:56
1
Possible duplicate of Is there a term for switching syllables of words?
– BruceWayne
Jan 8 at 15:05
1
@Ahmed I see that you amended your question with clarification about what kind of switch you're asking. There's no special word to distinguish your very specific situation from the other very specific situations. Hyperbaton is for word order swaps, spoonerism is for initial sounds of words, metathesis is for any kind of otherwise unspecified swap (but usually for phonemes).
– Mitch
Jan 8 at 16:22
1
@Ahmed In your example sentence, it looks like you're searching for a speech impediment, can that be right? "He said 'markbooks' rather than 'bookmarks' because of his dyslexia." But there are no names for the specific form of dyslexia where you exchange syllables, I believe.
– Mr Lister
Jan 9 at 11:31
add a comment |
5
Related (but French): Verlan.
– Glorfindel
Jan 8 at 13:46
@Glorfindel, the Wikipedia states differently about what I am asking here. As the website says "verlan often drops the final vowel sound after the word is inverted, so femme and flic become meuf and keuf, respectively." // but here my question is not about dropping of any consonants or vowels.
– Ahmed
Jan 8 at 13:56
1
Possible duplicate of Is there a term for switching syllables of words?
– BruceWayne
Jan 8 at 15:05
1
@Ahmed I see that you amended your question with clarification about what kind of switch you're asking. There's no special word to distinguish your very specific situation from the other very specific situations. Hyperbaton is for word order swaps, spoonerism is for initial sounds of words, metathesis is for any kind of otherwise unspecified swap (but usually for phonemes).
– Mitch
Jan 8 at 16:22
1
@Ahmed In your example sentence, it looks like you're searching for a speech impediment, can that be right? "He said 'markbooks' rather than 'bookmarks' because of his dyslexia." But there are no names for the specific form of dyslexia where you exchange syllables, I believe.
– Mr Lister
Jan 9 at 11:31
5
5
Related (but French): Verlan.
– Glorfindel
Jan 8 at 13:46
Related (but French): Verlan.
– Glorfindel
Jan 8 at 13:46
@Glorfindel, the Wikipedia states differently about what I am asking here. As the website says "verlan often drops the final vowel sound after the word is inverted, so femme and flic become meuf and keuf, respectively." // but here my question is not about dropping of any consonants or vowels.
– Ahmed
Jan 8 at 13:56
@Glorfindel, the Wikipedia states differently about what I am asking here. As the website says "verlan often drops the final vowel sound after the word is inverted, so femme and flic become meuf and keuf, respectively." // but here my question is not about dropping of any consonants or vowels.
– Ahmed
Jan 8 at 13:56
1
1
Possible duplicate of Is there a term for switching syllables of words?
– BruceWayne
Jan 8 at 15:05
Possible duplicate of Is there a term for switching syllables of words?
– BruceWayne
Jan 8 at 15:05
1
1
@Ahmed I see that you amended your question with clarification about what kind of switch you're asking. There's no special word to distinguish your very specific situation from the other very specific situations. Hyperbaton is for word order swaps, spoonerism is for initial sounds of words, metathesis is for any kind of otherwise unspecified swap (but usually for phonemes).
– Mitch
Jan 8 at 16:22
@Ahmed I see that you amended your question with clarification about what kind of switch you're asking. There's no special word to distinguish your very specific situation from the other very specific situations. Hyperbaton is for word order swaps, spoonerism is for initial sounds of words, metathesis is for any kind of otherwise unspecified swap (but usually for phonemes).
– Mitch
Jan 8 at 16:22
1
1
@Ahmed In your example sentence, it looks like you're searching for a speech impediment, can that be right? "He said 'markbooks' rather than 'bookmarks' because of his dyslexia." But there are no names for the specific form of dyslexia where you exchange syllables, I believe.
– Mr Lister
Jan 9 at 11:31
@Ahmed In your example sentence, it looks like you're searching for a speech impediment, can that be right? "He said 'markbooks' rather than 'bookmarks' because of his dyslexia." But there are no names for the specific form of dyslexia where you exchange syllables, I believe.
– Mr Lister
Jan 9 at 11:31
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
Any kind of switch in order, whether sounds, syllables, or words, is called:
metathesis
(/mɪˈtæθɪsɪs/ with accent on the second syllable).
Examples are:
- common pronunciation of 'comfortable' as 'comfterble' /ˈkʌmftərbəl/
- 'peckerwood' for 'woodpecker'
A spoonerism is a kind of metathesis. For example, "A well-boiled icicle" ("well-oiled bicycle").
In rhetoric, changing out of the usual word order is also called
hyperbaton
(having numerous rhetorical synonyms like anastrophe or synchysis).
Of course 'metathesis' (not to be confused with 'metastasis' a spread of cancer to a secondary site), is a bit technical sounding. A more natural sounding alternative might simply be
switch
or
transposition
or as you mentioned
inversion.
These are all mostly intentional (except for a Spoonerism). If what is happening is an actual mistake, then it might additionally be called euphemistically a
solecism.
edited Jan 8 at 14:33
user662852
2,650619
answered Jan 8 at 14:18
MitchMitch
51.4k15103214
11
I don't know if it matters, but a 'peckerwood' and a 'woodpecker' are not the same thing.
– Robusto
Jan 8 at 14:25
@Robusto yes, though etymonline euphemistically considers them synonymous.
– Mitch
Jan 8 at 14:40
2
Reminds me of the comedian shtick of Rindercella and her gairy fodmother.
– hatchet
Jan 8 at 22:30
add a comment |
The most common term I've heard for this is a "Spoonerism". It's a reference to William Archibald Spooner who was known for making these kinds of utterances unintentionally.
answered Jan 8 at 18:01
CodeMonkeyCodeMonkey
4014
9
The definition of a Spoonerism isn't ironclad, but I've typically seen it as transposing only the initial sounds of words, rather than swapping the order of compound words. A Spoonerism of "bookmark" would be "mookbark", not "markbook".
– Nuclear Wang
Jan 8 at 19:10
1
@NuclearWang - Sorry, but no. One of Spooner's best-known malaprops is, "Pardon me, Sir, but I think you are occupewing my pie."
– WhatRoughBeast
Jan 9 at 2:17
Spooner may or may not have spoken that way intentionally but most Spoonerisms I have heard and most of those I spoken myself have been deliberate.
– BoldBen
Jan 9 at 8:22
2
@WhatRoughBeast I'd argue that most Spoonerisms are made by transposing the initial sounds of two words, but you are correct that it's not the only way to make one. I'd still be hard-pressed to call "markbook" a Spoonerism, though, as it effectively reorders entire words, rather than rearranging phonemes to make new words.
– Nuclear Wang
Jan 9 at 13:53
add a comment |
There used to be a common expression, "backasswards" - a metathesis of ass-backwards - that could be used to describe this situation:
"You said that word backasswards, you know."
It also has other useful applications, although you don't hear it as much anymore. US.
answered Jan 9 at 0:14
OldbagOldbag
12.1k1437
1
Do you have any sources for this expression?
– tox123
Jan 9 at 2:49
4
I've always heard it as "bass-ackwards".
– SliceThePi
Jan 9 at 16:53
@SliceThePi : me, too, but it usually just means 'completely wrong'. Like if someone claims why something has occurred and attributes cause incorrectly. (especially when they're assigning blame to the incorrect party)
– Joe
Jan 9 at 16:57
1
Much as I like this idea of backassward (and I very much do), Merriam-Webster defines backassward as utterly or ridiculously backward, foolish, or wrong or as equivalent to ass-backward.
– tmgr
Jan 9 at 16:58
add a comment |
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3 Answers
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active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Any kind of switch in order, whether sounds, syllables, or words, is called:
metathesis
(/mɪˈtæθɪsɪs/ with accent on the second syllable).
Examples are:
- common pronunciation of 'comfortable' as 'comfterble' /ˈkʌmftərbəl/
- 'peckerwood' for 'woodpecker'
A spoonerism is a kind of metathesis. For example, "A well-boiled icicle" ("well-oiled bicycle").
In rhetoric, changing out of the usual word order is also called
hyperbaton
(having numerous rhetorical synonyms like anastrophe or synchysis).
Of course 'metathesis' (not to be confused with 'metastasis' a spread of cancer to a secondary site), is a bit technical sounding. A more natural sounding alternative might simply be
switch
or
transposition
or as you mentioned
inversion.
These are all mostly intentional (except for a Spoonerism). If what is happening is an actual mistake, then it might additionally be called euphemistically a
solecism.
edited Jan 8 at 14:33
user662852
2,650619
answered Jan 8 at 14:18
MitchMitch
51.4k15103214
11
I don't know if it matters, but a 'peckerwood' and a 'woodpecker' are not the same thing.
– Robusto
Jan 8 at 14:25
@Robusto yes, though etymonline euphemistically considers them synonymous.
– Mitch
Jan 8 at 14:40
2
Reminds me of the comedian shtick of Rindercella and her gairy fodmother.
– hatchet
Jan 8 at 22:30
add a comment |
Any kind of switch in order, whether sounds, syllables, or words, is called:
metathesis
(/mɪˈtæθɪsɪs/ with accent on the second syllable).
Examples are:
- common pronunciation of 'comfortable' as 'comfterble' /ˈkʌmftərbəl/
- 'peckerwood' for 'woodpecker'
A spoonerism is a kind of metathesis. For example, "A well-boiled icicle" ("well-oiled bicycle").
In rhetoric, changing out of the usual word order is also called
hyperbaton
(having numerous rhetorical synonyms like anastrophe or synchysis).
Of course 'metathesis' (not to be confused with 'metastasis' a spread of cancer to a secondary site), is a bit technical sounding. A more natural sounding alternative might simply be
switch
or
transposition
or as you mentioned
inversion.
These are all mostly intentional (except for a Spoonerism). If what is happening is an actual mistake, then it might additionally be called euphemistically a
solecism.
edited Jan 8 at 14:33
user662852
2,650619
answered Jan 8 at 14:18
MitchMitch
51.4k15103214
11
I don't know if it matters, but a 'peckerwood' and a 'woodpecker' are not the same thing.
– Robusto
Jan 8 at 14:25
@Robusto yes, though etymonline euphemistically considers them synonymous.
– Mitch
Jan 8 at 14:40
2
Reminds me of the comedian shtick of Rindercella and her gairy fodmother.
– hatchet
Jan 8 at 22:30
add a comment |
Any kind of switch in order, whether sounds, syllables, or words, is called:
metathesis
(/mɪˈtæθɪsɪs/ with accent on the second syllable).
Examples are:
- common pronunciation of 'comfortable' as 'comfterble' /ˈkʌmftərbəl/
- 'peckerwood' for 'woodpecker'
A spoonerism is a kind of metathesis. For example, "A well-boiled icicle" ("well-oiled bicycle").
In rhetoric, changing out of the usual word order is also called
hyperbaton
(having numerous rhetorical synonyms like anastrophe or synchysis).
Of course 'metathesis' (not to be confused with 'metastasis' a spread of cancer to a secondary site), is a bit technical sounding. A more natural sounding alternative might simply be
switch
or
transposition
or as you mentioned
inversion.
These are all mostly intentional (except for a Spoonerism). If what is happening is an actual mistake, then it might additionally be called euphemistically a
solecism.
edited Jan 8 at 14:33
user662852
2,650619
answered Jan 8 at 14:18
MitchMitch
51.4k15103214
Any kind of switch in order, whether sounds, syllables, or words, is called:
metathesis
(/mɪˈtæθɪsɪs/ with accent on the second syllable).
Examples are:
- common pronunciation of 'comfortable' as 'comfterble' /ˈkʌmftərbəl/
- 'peckerwood' for 'woodpecker'
A spoonerism is a kind of metathesis. For example, "A well-boiled icicle" ("well-oiled bicycle").
In rhetoric, changing out of the usual word order is also called
hyperbaton
(having numerous rhetorical synonyms like anastrophe or synchysis).
Of course 'metathesis' (not to be confused with 'metastasis' a spread of cancer to a secondary site), is a bit technical sounding. A more natural sounding alternative might simply be
switch
or
transposition
or as you mentioned
inversion.
These are all mostly intentional (except for a Spoonerism). If what is happening is an actual mistake, then it might additionally be called euphemistically a
solecism.
edited Jan 8 at 14:33
user662852
2,650619
answered Jan 8 at 14:18
MitchMitch
51.4k15103214
edited Jan 8 at 14:33
user662852
2,650619
edited Jan 8 at 14:33
user662852
2,650619
edited Jan 8 at 14:33
user662852
2,650619
2,650619
answered Jan 8 at 14:18
MitchMitch
51.4k15103214
answered Jan 8 at 14:18
MitchMitch
51.4k15103214
answered Jan 8 at 14:18
MitchMitch
51.4k15103214
51.4k15103214
11
I don't know if it matters, but a 'peckerwood' and a 'woodpecker' are not the same thing.
– Robusto
Jan 8 at 14:25
@Robusto yes, though etymonline euphemistically considers them synonymous.
– Mitch
Jan 8 at 14:40
2
Reminds me of the comedian shtick of Rindercella and her gairy fodmother.
– hatchet
Jan 8 at 22:30
add a comment |
11
I don't know if it matters, but a 'peckerwood' and a 'woodpecker' are not the same thing.
– Robusto
Jan 8 at 14:25
@Robusto yes, though etymonline euphemistically considers them synonymous.
– Mitch
Jan 8 at 14:40
2
Reminds me of the comedian shtick of Rindercella and her gairy fodmother.
– hatchet
Jan 8 at 22:30
11
11
I don't know if it matters, but a 'peckerwood' and a 'woodpecker' are not the same thing.
– Robusto
Jan 8 at 14:25
I don't know if it matters, but a 'peckerwood' and a 'woodpecker' are not the same thing.
– Robusto
Jan 8 at 14:25
@Robusto yes, though etymonline euphemistically considers them synonymous.
– Mitch
Jan 8 at 14:40
@Robusto yes, though etymonline euphemistically considers them synonymous.
– Mitch
Jan 8 at 14:40
2
2
Reminds me of the comedian shtick of Rindercella and her gairy fodmother.
– hatchet
Jan 8 at 22:30
Reminds me of the comedian shtick of Rindercella and her gairy fodmother.
– hatchet
Jan 8 at 22:30
add a comment |
The most common term I've heard for this is a "Spoonerism". It's a reference to William Archibald Spooner who was known for making these kinds of utterances unintentionally.
answered Jan 8 at 18:01
CodeMonkeyCodeMonkey
4014
9
The definition of a Spoonerism isn't ironclad, but I've typically seen it as transposing only the initial sounds of words, rather than swapping the order of compound words. A Spoonerism of "bookmark" would be "mookbark", not "markbook".
– Nuclear Wang
Jan 8 at 19:10
1
@NuclearWang - Sorry, but no. One of Spooner's best-known malaprops is, "Pardon me, Sir, but I think you are occupewing my pie."
– WhatRoughBeast
Jan 9 at 2:17
Spooner may or may not have spoken that way intentionally but most Spoonerisms I have heard and most of those I spoken myself have been deliberate.
– BoldBen
Jan 9 at 8:22
2
@WhatRoughBeast I'd argue that most Spoonerisms are made by transposing the initial sounds of two words, but you are correct that it's not the only way to make one. I'd still be hard-pressed to call "markbook" a Spoonerism, though, as it effectively reorders entire words, rather than rearranging phonemes to make new words.
– Nuclear Wang
Jan 9 at 13:53
add a comment |
The most common term I've heard for this is a "Spoonerism". It's a reference to William Archibald Spooner who was known for making these kinds of utterances unintentionally.
answered Jan 8 at 18:01
CodeMonkeyCodeMonkey
4014
9
The definition of a Spoonerism isn't ironclad, but I've typically seen it as transposing only the initial sounds of words, rather than swapping the order of compound words. A Spoonerism of "bookmark" would be "mookbark", not "markbook".
– Nuclear Wang
Jan 8 at 19:10
1
@NuclearWang - Sorry, but no. One of Spooner's best-known malaprops is, "Pardon me, Sir, but I think you are occupewing my pie."
– WhatRoughBeast
Jan 9 at 2:17
Spooner may or may not have spoken that way intentionally but most Spoonerisms I have heard and most of those I spoken myself have been deliberate.
– BoldBen
Jan 9 at 8:22
2
@WhatRoughBeast I'd argue that most Spoonerisms are made by transposing the initial sounds of two words, but you are correct that it's not the only way to make one. I'd still be hard-pressed to call "markbook" a Spoonerism, though, as it effectively reorders entire words, rather than rearranging phonemes to make new words.
– Nuclear Wang
Jan 9 at 13:53
add a comment |
The most common term I've heard for this is a "Spoonerism". It's a reference to William Archibald Spooner who was known for making these kinds of utterances unintentionally.
answered Jan 8 at 18:01
CodeMonkeyCodeMonkey
4014
The most common term I've heard for this is a "Spoonerism". It's a reference to William Archibald Spooner who was known for making these kinds of utterances unintentionally.
answered Jan 8 at 18:01
CodeMonkeyCodeMonkey
4014
answered Jan 8 at 18:01
CodeMonkeyCodeMonkey
4014
answered Jan 8 at 18:01
CodeMonkeyCodeMonkey
4014
answered Jan 8 at 18:01
CodeMonkeyCodeMonkey
4014
4014
9
The definition of a Spoonerism isn't ironclad, but I've typically seen it as transposing only the initial sounds of words, rather than swapping the order of compound words. A Spoonerism of "bookmark" would be "mookbark", not "markbook".
– Nuclear Wang
Jan 8 at 19:10
1
@NuclearWang - Sorry, but no. One of Spooner's best-known malaprops is, "Pardon me, Sir, but I think you are occupewing my pie."
– WhatRoughBeast
Jan 9 at 2:17
Spooner may or may not have spoken that way intentionally but most Spoonerisms I have heard and most of those I spoken myself have been deliberate.
– BoldBen
Jan 9 at 8:22
2
@WhatRoughBeast I'd argue that most Spoonerisms are made by transposing the initial sounds of two words, but you are correct that it's not the only way to make one. I'd still be hard-pressed to call "markbook" a Spoonerism, though, as it effectively reorders entire words, rather than rearranging phonemes to make new words.
– Nuclear Wang
Jan 9 at 13:53
add a comment |
9
The definition of a Spoonerism isn't ironclad, but I've typically seen it as transposing only the initial sounds of words, rather than swapping the order of compound words. A Spoonerism of "bookmark" would be "mookbark", not "markbook".
– Nuclear Wang
Jan 8 at 19:10
1
@NuclearWang - Sorry, but no. One of Spooner's best-known malaprops is, "Pardon me, Sir, but I think you are occupewing my pie."
– WhatRoughBeast
Jan 9 at 2:17
Spooner may or may not have spoken that way intentionally but most Spoonerisms I have heard and most of those I spoken myself have been deliberate.
– BoldBen
Jan 9 at 8:22
2
@WhatRoughBeast I'd argue that most Spoonerisms are made by transposing the initial sounds of two words, but you are correct that it's not the only way to make one. I'd still be hard-pressed to call "markbook" a Spoonerism, though, as it effectively reorders entire words, rather than rearranging phonemes to make new words.
– Nuclear Wang
Jan 9 at 13:53
9
9
The definition of a Spoonerism isn't ironclad, but I've typically seen it as transposing only the initial sounds of words, rather than swapping the order of compound words. A Spoonerism of "bookmark" would be "mookbark", not "markbook".
– Nuclear Wang
Jan 8 at 19:10
The definition of a Spoonerism isn't ironclad, but I've typically seen it as transposing only the initial sounds of words, rather than swapping the order of compound words. A Spoonerism of "bookmark" would be "mookbark", not "markbook".
– Nuclear Wang
Jan 8 at 19:10
1
1
@NuclearWang - Sorry, but no. One of Spooner's best-known malaprops is, "Pardon me, Sir, but I think you are occupewing my pie."
– WhatRoughBeast
Jan 9 at 2:17
@NuclearWang - Sorry, but no. One of Spooner's best-known malaprops is, "Pardon me, Sir, but I think you are occupewing my pie."
– WhatRoughBeast
Jan 9 at 2:17
Spooner may or may not have spoken that way intentionally but most Spoonerisms I have heard and most of those I spoken myself have been deliberate.
– BoldBen
Jan 9 at 8:22
Spooner may or may not have spoken that way intentionally but most Spoonerisms I have heard and most of those I spoken myself have been deliberate.
– BoldBen
Jan 9 at 8:22
2
2
@WhatRoughBeast I'd argue that most Spoonerisms are made by transposing the initial sounds of two words, but you are correct that it's not the only way to make one. I'd still be hard-pressed to call "markbook" a Spoonerism, though, as it effectively reorders entire words, rather than rearranging phonemes to make new words.
– Nuclear Wang
Jan 9 at 13:53
@WhatRoughBeast I'd argue that most Spoonerisms are made by transposing the initial sounds of two words, but you are correct that it's not the only way to make one. I'd still be hard-pressed to call "markbook" a Spoonerism, though, as it effectively reorders entire words, rather than rearranging phonemes to make new words.
– Nuclear Wang
Jan 9 at 13:53
add a comment |
There used to be a common expression, "backasswards" - a metathesis of ass-backwards - that could be used to describe this situation:
"You said that word backasswards, you know."
It also has other useful applications, although you don't hear it as much anymore. US.
answered Jan 9 at 0:14
OldbagOldbag
12.1k1437
1
Do you have any sources for this expression?
– tox123
Jan 9 at 2:49
4
I've always heard it as "bass-ackwards".
– SliceThePi
Jan 9 at 16:53
@SliceThePi : me, too, but it usually just means 'completely wrong'. Like if someone claims why something has occurred and attributes cause incorrectly. (especially when they're assigning blame to the incorrect party)
– Joe
Jan 9 at 16:57
1
Much as I like this idea of backassward (and I very much do), Merriam-Webster defines backassward as utterly or ridiculously backward, foolish, or wrong or as equivalent to ass-backward.
– tmgr
Jan 9 at 16:58
add a comment |
There used to be a common expression, "backasswards" - a metathesis of ass-backwards - that could be used to describe this situation:
"You said that word backasswards, you know."
It also has other useful applications, although you don't hear it as much anymore. US.
answered Jan 9 at 0:14
OldbagOldbag
12.1k1437
1
Do you have any sources for this expression?
– tox123
Jan 9 at 2:49
4
I've always heard it as "bass-ackwards".
– SliceThePi
Jan 9 at 16:53
@SliceThePi : me, too, but it usually just means 'completely wrong'. Like if someone claims why something has occurred and attributes cause incorrectly. (especially when they're assigning blame to the incorrect party)
– Joe
Jan 9 at 16:57
1
Much as I like this idea of backassward (and I very much do), Merriam-Webster defines backassward as utterly or ridiculously backward, foolish, or wrong or as equivalent to ass-backward.
– tmgr
Jan 9 at 16:58
add a comment |
There used to be a common expression, "backasswards" - a metathesis of ass-backwards - that could be used to describe this situation:
"You said that word backasswards, you know."
It also has other useful applications, although you don't hear it as much anymore. US.
answered Jan 9 at 0:14
OldbagOldbag
12.1k1437
There used to be a common expression, "backasswards" - a metathesis of ass-backwards - that could be used to describe this situation:
"You said that word backasswards, you know."
It also has other useful applications, although you don't hear it as much anymore. US.
answered Jan 9 at 0:14
OldbagOldbag
12.1k1437
answered Jan 9 at 0:14
OldbagOldbag
12.1k1437
answered Jan 9 at 0:14
OldbagOldbag
12.1k1437
answered Jan 9 at 0:14
OldbagOldbag
12.1k1437
12.1k1437
1
Do you have any sources for this expression?
– tox123
Jan 9 at 2:49
4
I've always heard it as "bass-ackwards".
– SliceThePi
Jan 9 at 16:53
@SliceThePi : me, too, but it usually just means 'completely wrong'. Like if someone claims why something has occurred and attributes cause incorrectly. (especially when they're assigning blame to the incorrect party)
– Joe
Jan 9 at 16:57
1
Much as I like this idea of backassward (and I very much do), Merriam-Webster defines backassward as utterly or ridiculously backward, foolish, or wrong or as equivalent to ass-backward.
– tmgr
Jan 9 at 16:58
add a comment |
1
Do you have any sources for this expression?
– tox123
Jan 9 at 2:49
4
I've always heard it as "bass-ackwards".
– SliceThePi
Jan 9 at 16:53
@SliceThePi : me, too, but it usually just means 'completely wrong'. Like if someone claims why something has occurred and attributes cause incorrectly. (especially when they're assigning blame to the incorrect party)
– Joe
Jan 9 at 16:57
1
Much as I like this idea of backassward (and I very much do), Merriam-Webster defines backassward as utterly or ridiculously backward, foolish, or wrong or as equivalent to ass-backward.
– tmgr
Jan 9 at 16:58
1
1
Do you have any sources for this expression?
– tox123
Jan 9 at 2:49
Do you have any sources for this expression?
– tox123
Jan 9 at 2:49
4
4
I've always heard it as "bass-ackwards".
– SliceThePi
Jan 9 at 16:53
I've always heard it as "bass-ackwards".
– SliceThePi
Jan 9 at 16:53
@SliceThePi : me, too, but it usually just means 'completely wrong'. Like if someone claims why something has occurred and attributes cause incorrectly. (especially when they're assigning blame to the incorrect party)
– Joe
Jan 9 at 16:57
@SliceThePi : me, too, but it usually just means 'completely wrong'. Like if someone claims why something has occurred and attributes cause incorrectly. (especially when they're assigning blame to the incorrect party)
– Joe
Jan 9 at 16:57
1
1
Much as I like this idea of backassward (and I very much do), Merriam-Webster defines backassward as utterly or ridiculously backward, foolish, or wrong or as equivalent to ass-backward.
– tmgr
Jan 9 at 16:58
Much as I like this idea of backassward (and I very much do), Merriam-Webster defines backassward as utterly or ridiculously backward, foolish, or wrong or as equivalent to ass-backward.
– tmgr
Jan 9 at 16:58
add a comment |
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5
Related (but French): Verlan.
– Glorfindel
Jan 8 at 13:46
@Glorfindel, the Wikipedia states differently about what I am asking here. As the website says "verlan often drops the final vowel sound after the word is inverted, so femme and flic become meuf and keuf, respectively." // but here my question is not about dropping of any consonants or vowels.
– Ahmed
Jan 8 at 13:56
1
Possible duplicate of Is there a term for switching syllables of words?
– BruceWayne
Jan 8 at 15:05
1
@Ahmed I see that you amended your question with clarification about what kind of switch you're asking. There's no special word to distinguish your very specific situation from the other very specific situations. Hyperbaton is for word order swaps, spoonerism is for initial sounds of words, metathesis is for any kind of otherwise unspecified swap (but usually for phonemes).
– Mitch
Jan 8 at 16:22
1
@Ahmed In your example sentence, it looks like you're searching for a speech impediment, can that be right? "He said 'markbooks' rather than 'bookmarks' because of his dyslexia." But there are no names for the specific form of dyslexia where you exchange syllables, I believe.
– Mr Lister
Jan 9 at 11:31