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| Malapropisms... | | Date Created: Jun 02, 2005, 09:03 AM |
A malapropism is the misuse, often to comic effect, of a particular word. (One of the very few things our beloved President seems to be good at.)
One of my favorites, for example, is when someone in church will be singing the hymn "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name." Inevitably someone standing near me will sing the phrase "Let angels prostrate fall" as "Let angels prostate fall." The idea of prostates falling from heaven makes me giggle. Generally, no matter how engaging the sermon, I'm completely lost for the rest of the service.
Well, now I'm a wee bit concerned that I'm going to make a similar gaff in front of my peers this weekend. We're having a Chemistry Symposium here in the Department (I know that you're already making your plane reservations to attend, right?) and I have to introduce the keynote speaker. No problem so far right? Right, no big deal.
I'm sure I'll be fine as long as I don't mention the name of the symposium: PECRUM. (Perspectives on Chemistry Research at the University of Michigan.)
Imagine walking around the department and seeing posters everywhere with the word PECRUM splattered across them. We really do need a better name for this symposium. I'm thinking something along the lines of Perspectives on Chemistry Research, or PECR. Perhaps a name like Perspectives on Research in Chemistry, (PORC) would be better? Or perhaps simply, Chemistry at the Univerisity of Michigan.
Perhaps you, my dear readers have even better ideas? |
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