Saturday, January 23, 2010

Let's Talk Spoonerisms...!


What's that? Never heard of a Spoonerism? REALLY?

Well, let Ol' Hermitjim fill ya in! After all, that's what I do...dig up all these wonderful, near worthless tid-bits of information to share with you!

Thanks to the never ending, always entertaining Old Farmer's Almanac, I dug up this little bit of history! One of the reasons this book has been around for 200 years or so is the fact that it is just so interesting and educational!

So now...on to Spoonerisms!

The Reverend William Archibald Spooner was a highly-regarded scholar and warden of New College at England's great Oxford University. Believe it or not, it was a mere slip of the tongue that started this dignified British clergyman on the road to eternal renown.

One day in a chapel, when announcing the name of a hymn, Spooner intended to say "Conquering Kings Their Titles Take." But what came out was "Kinquering Kongs Their Titles Take."

Although the members of the congregation probably maintained their composure, no doubt with considerable difficulty, from then on Spooner was a marked man.

Oxford students quickly proceeded to manufacture other topsy-turvy expressions and hang them on the warden of New College.

There is evidence, too, that Spooner went along with the joke and contributed some sterling examples of his own making. By about 1900, the word spoonerism had entered the language.

When Spooner died in 1930 at the age of eighty-six, The New York Times allotted his obituary nearly a full column crammed with choice examples of the literary curiosity bearing his name.

At the time of Queen Victoria's Jubilee, said the Times, he was credited with calling for "three cheers for our queer old dean."

On a visit to the British fleet at Portsmouth, he was quoted as asking to go out and see the "cattleships and bruisers."

A student once noted that he had been rebuked by the warden for "fighting liars in the quadrangle," and an entire class was scolded severly for "hissing my mystery lectures."

Often-Quoted Spoonerisms

"It is kistomary to kiss the bride."

"A blushing crow."

"Those girls are sin twisters."

"I was hocked and shorrified."

"We each had tee martoonies."

"She joins this club over my bed doddy."

"He rode off on his well-boiled icicle."

"Mardon me, padam, you're occupewing the wrong pie; let me sew you to another sheet."


Now, my friends, let's get some coffee and sit outside for a bit, OK?

14 comments:

Ken said...

"Now fry mends,let's sit some coffee and get outside for a bit"...


...how's that'un Jim...


oh,btw...Goodmornin...

The cottage by the Cranelake said...

It´s always good to start the day with a laugh :-)
Have a great day now!
Christer.

chinasyndrome said...

Jim you are the man always a bright spot in my morning.Oh and I really like Sin Twisters.

JoJo said...

Good Morning My Special One, fun post this cold morning. I will sit and drink a couple of cups and then button up and head for home. Still haven't looked out side for fear there may be snow out there.
Nope no snow looks like it is going to be clearing up.

Momlady said...

Some tongue twisters there.

HermitJim said...

Hy Ken...
Why, you sly ol' fox, you! All this time you had this hidden talent and didn't tell anyone!

Good to see you again, buddy! Thanks for stopping by!


Hey Christer...
So glad you liked it, my friend! You know me...always trying to make folks smile!

I sure do appreciate you coming by today!


Hey China...
I do what I can, ya know?

I kinda liked the "sin twisters" a lot myself!

I really appreciate you coming by today!


Hey Jojo...
You just be careful out there! Some folks forget how to drive when the weather turns bad!

Glad you withstood the bad weather but I hope you had a good time!

Thanks, sweetie, for coming by today!


Hey Momlady...
It could get the old tongue a bit turned around, that's for sure!

I'm happy to see you this morning...and certainly glad you could drop in!

Billy Bob said...

Great post ya made there Jim. Daughter and me used to have a game of words....substitute the "real" letter with another (chosen at start of game), then attempt to talk. Boy howdy, someone would'a thought we was foreigners or something.

Kyddryn said...

Mister Hermit, sir, when we oned ay meet again I shall have to recite for you a family tradition...a poem almost entirely made up of spoonerisms that my beloved Papa (grandfather) used to recite while drinking. Family tradition dictates I don't write it down, else I'd e-mail it to ya.

Fun post today!

Shade and Sweetwater,
K

HermitJim said...

Hey Billy Bob...
Sure does bring back some memories of when we could find ways to have fun without all the electronics, doesn't it?

In the "Old Days" parents AND children all had to be more creative than they are now! Seems like we had as much, if not more, fun as today!

A lot sheaper, too!

Hey, thanks for coming by, buddy!

HermitJim said...

Hey K...
It would be my pleasure to share in your family tradition! I always enjoy hearing about things passed on from generation to generation.

So, until we meet again in person...I thank you for stopping by, my friend!

Cygnus MacLlyr said...

I'd heard of them, but always appreciate the history you give us, "Ol' Hermit"... lol!

And the smiles as well! Have a great day, Uncle!

Anonymous said...

Jermit Him, spoonerisms were all the go when I was at school. There is also a record (old 45rpm job) on the Story of Cinderella that ended: "So the storal of the mory is, if you want to lall in fove with pransom hince, don't forget to slop your dripper..."

There you have it, enjoyed the coffee.

AV

Anonymous said...

I am the Spoonerism Queen. It's like a disease with me. I watch for Snattle rakes in the grass. I tripped in a pudmuddle once. My Brother and sister-in-law (Tony and Doris) have now officially been re-named Tonis and Dory. I don't usually even notice I've done it.
Enjoy the coffee.

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