What is the difference between an Eggcorn and a Mondagreen?

skysmom65

An eggcorn is a neologism suggested by Mark Liberman to denote an idiosyncratic substitution of a word or phrase for a word or words that sound identical, or nearly so, at least in the dialect the speaker uses. Characteristic of the eggcorn, and its chief difference from malapropism, is that the new phrase makes sense on some level ("old-timer's disease" for "Alzheimer's disease"). Eggcorns often involve replacing an unfamiliar, archaic, or obscure word with a more common or modern word ("baited breath" for "bated breath"). The subject of eggcorns was first introduced on the Internet on September 23, 2003 by Mark Liberman on the website Language Log, a blog for linguists. He discussed the case of a woman who substitutes the phrase egg corn for the word acorn. Later on, the word egg corn or eggcorn (which in itself is an eggcorn) has been suggested to name such linguistic peculiarities. Mondagreen is: A series of words that result from the mishearing or misinterpretation of a statement or song lyric. For example, I led the pigeons to the flag for I pledge allegiance to the flag. http://www.answers.com/Eggcorn Dec 02 06, 1:51 PM

hintmaster

If you want to learn more about "Eggcorn" click here http://eggcorns.lascribe.net/ Dec 02 06, 2:45 PM

peasypod

Or, you can visit the menu on my 72127. Dec 02 06, 2:50 PM

zbeckabee

Ah yes, the old "Two Obese Patties, Special Ross, Lester Cleese Picking Bunions On A Sesame Street Bus." One of my favorite jokes. http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=19980218 Dec 02 06, 3:03 PM

zbeckabee

Sorry, Peasy...didn't see your 72127...perhaps that was prior to my return? Dec 02 06, 3:04 PM

Baloo55th

Funnily enough, acorn is itself an eggcorn. The original word was acearn and later was taken to be 'ake corn' (oak corn). Side note on a notable difference between Americans and Brits: we may on occasion wave flags and hang them from windows (well, I don't but some do), but we don't talk to them. The baited breath has connections with the joke about the cat that ate some cheese and then went mousing.... Dec 02 06, 3:18 PM

lanfranco

71727 did take a while to answer, I must say. We don't talk to our flag either, Baloo. The point of the "Pledge of Allegiance" (which I stopped saying at the age of 13) is that the flag supposedly represents the Republic and that we are pledging allegiance to the latter by reciting the pledge before the former. It has been said that no one reverences a flag as a symbol of a country quite as enthusiastically as Americans do; but it must be rememembered that the point is the country, not the piece of cloth. Dec 02 06, 6:31 PM

Baloo55th

Still the same difference there - we don't pledge allegiance. It's just assumed. Mind you, they seem to be making some changes for people becoming British citizens. Dec 03 06, 10:45 AM