Slip of the tongue?

N. BALAN

The two characters, a lady and a doctor, whose names had the suffix of "Ism" in the English language were Mrs. Malaprop and Dr. Spooner.

Mrs. Malaprop was actually a character in Sheridan's play entitled "The rivals" wherein she spoke a sentence: "She is as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile." She used the word "allegory" instead of "alligator." When using a difficult word and getting it wrong, and ridiculously misusing or pronouncing it, it is termed "Malapropism."

In the case of Dr. Spooner he had the habit of having the initial letters of words mixed up. The time-old example was: "An under- graduate had hissed all his mystery lectures." He wanted to say "missed all his history lectures."

Other samples of Spoonerism could be:

"It is a tip of the slung (slip of the tongue) and "Will you please take me?" (make tea). "

Mr. X took the town drain to Bangalore" (down train).

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