During a recent conversation, a friend of mine inadvertently
created a malapropism. For those needing a refresher, a malapropism is when you
substitute a word with a like-sounding word for comic effect. Oftentimes this
substitution is accidental, like my friend’s, but it can also be intentional
(mainly by writers with a humorous bent).
An example would be “Statute of Liberty” versus “Statue”.
An example would not be “I wish you were dead” instead of “Hello”.
Famous people who have made a career out of malapropisms are
Yogi Berra, Bil Keane of Family Circus fame and former President George W. Bush
(known as “Bush-isms”).
Which brings us back to my friend. Instead of saying, “I
like you in general”, my friend said, “I like your gender.” And there was much
laughing.
