what is spoonerism? give examples also.
Answers
A spoonerism (pronounced SPOON-er-izm) is a transposition of sounds (often the initial consonants) in two or more words, such as " shoving leopard" in place of "loving shepherd." Also known as slip of the tongue, exchange, metaphasis, and marrowsky.
A spoonerism is usually accidental and may have a comic effect. In the words of British comedian Tim Vine, "If I ever find out what a Spoonerism is, I'll heat my cat."
The term spoonerism is derived from the name of William A. Spooner (1844–1930), who had a reputation for making these slips of the tongue. Spoonerisms are fairly common in everyday speech and were well known, of course, even before Reverend Spooner lent his name to the phenomenon.
Examples and Observations of Spoonerism
"Rev. Dr. William Archibald Spooner, one-time warden of New College, Oxford, celebrated last fortnight his golden wedding anniversary. He has long been aware that he is the cause of the appearance of the word 'spoonerism' in the Oxford English Dictionary. A spoonerism is the transposition of two sounds, or of the first letters of two words, in a simple sentence. In 1879, Dr. Spooner announced a hymn as 'The Kinquering Congs Their Titles Take.' Since then, he has been labeled the author of countless spoonerisms. But, on his golden wedding celebration, he stoutly maintained that 'Kinquering Congs' was his one and only spoonerism, that it was a slip of his tongue.