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 (sometimes called oronyms). The new phrase introduces a meaning that is different from the original but plausible in the same context, such as "old-timers' disease" for "Alzheimer's disease".
Video Eggcorn
Etymology
The term eggcorn was coined by professor of linguistics Geoffrey Pullum in September 2003 in response to an article by Mark Liberman on the website Language Log, a blog for linguists. Liberman discussed the case of a woman who substitutes the phrase egg corn for the word acorn, and argued that the precise phenomenon lacked a name. Pullum suggested using "eggcorn" itself as a label.
Maps Eggcorn
Similar phenomena
An eggcorn differs from a malapropism, the latter being a substitution that creates a nonsensical phrase. Classical malapropisms generally derive their comic effect from the fault of the user, while eggcorns are substitutions that exhibit creativity, logic or ignorance. Eggcorns often involve replacing an unfamiliar, archaic, or obscure word with a more common or modern word ("baited breath" for "bated breath").
The phenomenon is very similar to the form of wordplay known as the pun except that, by definition, the speaker or writer intends the pun to have some humorous effect on the recipient, whereas one who speaks or writes an eggcorn is unaware.
It is also similar to, but differs from, mondegreens or a folk etymology.
Examples
- ex-patriot instead of expatriate
- mating name instead of maiden name
- on the spurt of the moment instead of on the spur of the moment
- preying mantis instead of praying mantis
- for all intensive purposes instead of for all intents and purposes
See also
- Expressive loan
- Hypercorrection
- Mumpsimus
- Malapropism
References
Further reading
- Diamond, Graeme (September 2010). "September 2010 new words". Oxford English Dictionary. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
- Freeman, Jan (2010-09-26). "So wrong it's right". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 3 October 2010.
- 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.
- Harbeck, James. (2010-06-02) "My Veil of Tears" Retrieved 2012-01-26.
External links
- The Eggcorn Database
- Eggcorn list at Making Light
Source of article : Wikipedia
0 Comments