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Wednesday 13 June 2012

There's Many A Slip - Sepia Saturday

This week’s photo from The State Library of New South Wales  features a couple embracing whilst a cat escapes from between their legs. The man is in uniform and they are either saying ‘goodbye’ or ‘hello’. The cat is bored by all the spooning going on.



This reminded me of the man who said to a lady he did not know, "Excuse me, Madame. Your slip is showing.


Annoyed, she retorted, "Don't look now but so is your father's."


All sorts of slip exist. It's a fielding position in cricket,  a tie, a place where ships are launched and even:


A slip of the tongue

Which leads me to William Archibald Spooner

Caricature of William Archibald Spooner - 1898
By Leslie Ward - published in Vanity Fair
Spooner became famous for so-called spoonerisms or play on words where constonants, vowels and parts of words are mixed.

And example appropriate to our prompt picture might be, "It is kisstomary to cuss the bride."

This Diamond Jubilee Year of our Queen

Queen Elizabeth II - 2007
(NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Spooner could have said, "Let's glaze our arses to the queer old Dean" but actually he is reputed to have said this alluding to our other "Diamond" Lady.

Queen Victoria - c1900
(One of her last photos from 'Victoria Images of her World)
It's a common occurrence for a language to be misused either by accident or deliberately. The term malapropism comes from Richard Brinsley Sheridan's play The Rivals and in particular the character Mrs Malaprop who frequently misspoke words to comic effect. (Malapropos is and adlective/adverb meaning  inappropriate/inappropriately) derived from the French mal à propos (literally "ill-suited").

Comedians and stars in films and on television have made use of malopropism's and not to leave the cat in our picture out in the cold there's this from Stan Laurel in the Laurel and Hardy film "Any Old Port".

"What a terrible cat's after me."

To avoid further linguistic disasters I suggest you take a look at other interpretations of our lovers at Sepia Saturday-130




20 comments:

Susan Kane said...

Love Spoonerisms! Have had my share of them.

Little Nell said...

What a jolly diversion. I do love any kind of wordplay, especially puns, but spoonerisms are so unintentionally funny that it adds another dimension.

Wendy said...

This is such a fun and funny response to the prompt. You would enjoy my aunt, the one who was glad her neighbor was there to distinguish the fire, and the same aunt who doesn't like bright-colored clothing but prefers mutilated colors.

21 Wits said...

Excuse me while I'm still bursting out in crazy laughter over your post! It is just so funny and love the way you jiggled (spoons and all Ha! Ha!) together....those photos are just adorable!

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

Hi

Found you via 21 wits by Karen

Love your photographs. I've been blending my own love of photography with my blog the past year or so. I think my pups get tired of having the camera in their faces

*smile* Mac

viridian said...

I have had a few malaprops myself in my teaching experience!

North County Film Club said...

What an interesting twist on the theme. You've surpassed yourself this week.
Nancy

Jinksy said...

Mrs Malaprop made the world a funnier place! LOL

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

Thanks for the follow

-- Mac

Mike Brubaker said...

What a fun Sapia Seturday post! Oops, I don't often make such lisps of tong.

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

Bob, great post, amusing and I always learn something as English is my second language, I have misused words, still do ... and also had not just one slip of the tongue.

Postcardy said...

Word play is fun!

Oregon Gifts of Comfort and Joy said...

Bob, you are so funny! Plus, you have an eagle eye ... I did notice that her slip was showing, but not right away. I have always enjoyed malaprophisms ... they are easier for me to think up than spoonerisms. Thanks for the history lesson, and next time, lets ride the alligator up to the first floor, instead of taking the elevator.

Joke ... my example of a malapropism! (Alligator/Escalator)

Kathy M.

Joy said...

The english language is certainly a slippery thing. Who can resist a malapropism, one I remember is casting nasturtiums (aspersions).

Anonymous said...

Such a funny post - thanks for the laugh!

Sharon said...

Very entertaining and creative.

Bruno Laliberté said...

You gave me a good chuckle to start my Monday. Much grateful!!
Soon [h]ow to fork for me!!...
;)~
HUGZ

Unknown said...

Congrats, didn't notice the slip. Very creative.
QMM

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Bob .. loved these - and Spooner et al .. are always good for a good giggle leading on to more giggles usually ..

Fun - cheers Hilary

Tattered and Lost said...

I never knew the history of Spoonerisms. Now I want more!