Page 14 - Indies Roundtable 2nd Anniversary Edition
P. 14
Former President George W. Bush
was notorious for creative misuse of
the English language. This is one of
his most famous malapropisms: “We
cannot let terrorists and rogue
nations hold this nation hostile or
hold our allies hostile.” It is clear from
the context that he meant to say
“hostage” instead of “hostile”.
President Bush is also alleged to have
said, “If it wasn't for the electrical
college, I wouldn't be president.” It’s
obvious that he meant “electoral
college”.
● Malapropisms frequently occur
when people are trying to use
words that are beyond their
ordinary vocabulary. They
sometimes occur in writing when
a person uses a word or phrase
that sounds right, but has a very
different meaning. My favorite
example is from an ethics class. I
had asked the students to write a
brief essay on euthanasia. One
girl turned in an essay entitled
Youth in Asia.
Some humorous examples of
malapropisms occur in children’s
misunderstanding of adult
conversation. I recall reading about
one little girl who had visited a
friend’s church. When she got home,
she told her mother that they sang a
song about a bear named Gladys who
didn’t see well. When her mother
was notorious for creative misuse of
the English language. This is one of
his most famous malapropisms: “We
cannot let terrorists and rogue
nations hold this nation hostile or
hold our allies hostile.” It is clear from
the context that he meant to say
“hostage” instead of “hostile”.
President Bush is also alleged to have
said, “If it wasn't for the electrical
college, I wouldn't be president.” It’s
obvious that he meant “electoral
college”.
● Malapropisms frequently occur
when people are trying to use
words that are beyond their
ordinary vocabulary. They
sometimes occur in writing when
a person uses a word or phrase
that sounds right, but has a very
different meaning. My favorite
example is from an ethics class. I
had asked the students to write a
brief essay on euthanasia. One
girl turned in an essay entitled
Youth in Asia.
Some humorous examples of
malapropisms occur in children’s
misunderstanding of adult
conversation. I recall reading about
one little girl who had visited a
friend’s church. When she got home,
she told her mother that they sang a
song about a bear named Gladys who
didn’t see well. When her mother
