spoonerism Who acts: spoonerism, you, Saying, teacher, students · What happens: be, swap, boil, oil, name, say · To what, where: slip, first sounds, It, Oxford teacher, mistake, ears · Speech: someone speaks here
«spoonerism» in the school dictionary: its 2 meanings for a pupil and its 6 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: spoonerism in the school dictionary .
Meaning 1 A spoonerism is a slip of the tongue where you swap the first sounds of two words, often by accident and with a funny result: «a well-boiled icicle» instead of «a well-oiled bicycle».
The tree, 35 words det nsubj cop det case det nmod advmod nsubj acl:relcl det amod obj case nummod nmod punct advmod case conj cc case det amod conj punct punct det advmod punct amod appos punct case fixed punct det advmod punct amod nmod punct punct root A DET spoonerism NOUN is AUX a DET slip NOUN of ADP the DET tongue NOUN where ADV you PRON swap VERB the DET first ADJ sounds NOUN of ADP two NUM words NOUN , PUNCT often ADV by ADP accident NOUN and CCONJ with ADP a DET funny ADJ result NOUN : PUNCT « PUNCT a DET well ADV - PUNCT boiled VERB icicle NOUN » PUNCT instead ADV of ADP « PUNCT a DET well ADV - PUNCT oiled VERB bicycle NOUN » PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 A a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 2 spoonerism det 2 spoonerism spoonerism NOUN Number=Sing 5 slip nsubj 3 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 5 slip cop 4 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 slip det 5 slip slip NOUN Number=Sing root root 6 of of ADP _ 8 tongue case 7 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 8 tongue det 8 tongue tongue NOUN Number=Sing 5 slip nmod 9 where where ADV PronType=Rel 11 swap advmod 10 you you PRON Case=Nom Person=2 PronType=Prs 11 swap nsubj 11 swap swap VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=2 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 8 tongue acl:relcl 12 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 14 sounds det 13 first first ADJ Degree=Pos NumForm=Word NumType=Ord 14 sounds amod 14 sounds sound NOUN Number=Plur 11 swap obj 15 of of ADP _ 17 words case 16 two two NUM NumForm=Word NumType=Card 17 words nummod 17 words word NOUN Number=Plur 14 sounds nmod 18 , , PUNCT _ 21 accident punct 19 often often ADV _ 21 accident advmod 20 by by ADP _ 21 accident case 21 accident accident NOUN Number=Sing 14 sounds conj 22 and and CCONJ _ 26 result cc 23 with with ADP _ 26 result case 24 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 26 result det 25 funny funny ADJ Degree=Pos 26 result amod 26 result result NOUN Number=Sing 21 accident conj 27 : : PUNCT _ 33 icicle punct 28 « « PUNCT _ 33 icicle punct 29 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 33 icicle det 30 well well ADV Degree=Pos 32 boiled advmod 31 - - PUNCT _ 30 well punct 32 boiled boil VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 33 icicle amod 33 icicle icicle NOUN Number=Sing 5 slip appos 34 » » PUNCT _ 33 icicle punct 35 instead instead ADV ExtPos=ADP 42 bicycle case 36 of of ADP _ 35 instead fixed 37 « « PUNCT _ 42 bicycle punct 38 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 42 bicycle det 39 well well ADV Degree=Pos 41 oiled advmod 40 - - PUNCT _ 39 well punct 41 oiled oil VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 42 bicycle amod 42 bicycle bicycle NOUN Number=Sing 33 icicle nmod 43 » » PUNCT _ 33 icicle punct 44 . . PUNCT _ 5 slip punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 is a present a spoonerism a slip of the tongue tree rules 2 swap present you the first sounds of two words and accident and a funny result vn exchange-13.6.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent sound=Theme 3 boil in a quote participle well property vn cooking-45.3 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient 4 oil in a quote participle well property vn butter-9.9 «NP V NP.destination»: agent=Agent
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.
Meaning 2 It is named after William Spooner, an Oxford teacher who was said to make this mistake often.
The tree, 17 words nsubj:pass aux:pass case obl flat punct det compound appos nsubj aux:pass acl:relcl mark advcl det obj advmod punct root It PRON is AUX named VERB after ADP William PROPN Spooner PROPN , PUNCT an DET Oxford PROPN teacher NOUN who PRON was AUX said VERB to PART make VERB this DET mistake NOUN often ADV . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 It it PRON Case=Nom Gender=Neut Number=Sing Person=3 PronType=Prs 3 named nsubj:pass 2 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 3 named aux:pass 3 named name VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass root root 4 after after ADP _ 5 William case 5 William William PROPN Number=Sing 3 named obl 6 Spooner Spooner PROPN Number=Sing 5 William flat 7 , , PUNCT _ 10 teacher punct 8 an a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 10 teacher det 9 Oxford Oxford PROPN Number=Sing 10 teacher compound 10 teacher teacher NOUN Number=Sing 5 William appos 11 who who PRON PronType=Rel 13 said nsubj 12 was be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 13 said aux:pass 13 said say VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass 10 teacher acl:relcl 14 to to PART _ 15 make mark 15 make make VERB VerbForm=Inf 13 said advcl 16 this this DET Number=Sing PronType=Dem 17 mistake det 17 mistake mistake NOUN Number=Sing 15 make obj 18 often often ADV _ 15 make advmod 19 . . PUNCT _ 3 named punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 name present · passive It after William vn appoint-29.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme 2 say speech: assert past · passive a Oxford teacher vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: subject=Topic 3 make to-infinitive this mistake often property vn build-26.1-1 «NP.asset V NP»: agent=Asset mistake=Product
Example 1 «Tease my ears» for «ease my tears» is a spoonerism.
The tree, 10 words punct csubj nmod:poss obj punct case punct conj nmod:poss obj punct cop det punct root « PUNCT Tease VERB my PRON ears NOUN » PUNCT for ADP « PUNCT ease VERB my PRON tears NOUN » PUNCT is AUX a DET spoonerism NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 « « PUNCT _ 2 Tease punct 2 Tease tease VERB VerbForm=Inf 14 spoonerism csubj 3 my my PRON Case=Gen Number=Sing Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 4 ears nmod:poss 4 ears ear NOUN Number=Plur 2 Tease obj 5 » » PUNCT _ 2 Tease punct 6 for for ADP _ 8 ease case 7 « « PUNCT _ 8 ease punct 8 ease ease VERB VerbForm=Inf 2 Tease conj 9 my my PRON Case=Gen Number=Sing Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 10 tears nmod:poss 10 tears tear NOUN Number=Plur 8 ease obj 11 » » PUNCT _ 2 Tease punct 12 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 14 spoonerism cop 13 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 14 spoonerism det 14 spoonerism spoonerism NOUN Number=Sing root root 15 . . PUNCT _ 14 spoonerism punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 tease in a quote infinitive my ears vn bully-59.5 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent ear=Patient 2 ease in a quote infinitive my tears vn other_cos-45.4 «NP V NP.patient»: agent=Agent tear=Patient 3 is a present a spoonerism tree rules
Example 2 Saying «fighting a liar» instead of «lighting a fire» is a spoonerism.
The tree, 12 words csubj punct ccomp det obj punct mark fixed punct ccomp det obj punct cop det punct root Saying VERB « PUNCT fighting VERB a DET liar NOUN » PUNCT instead ADV of ADP « PUNCT lighting VERB a DET fire NOUN » PUNCT is AUX a DET spoonerism NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Saying say VERB Tense=Pres VerbForm=Part 16 spoonerism csubj 2 « « PUNCT _ 3 fighting punct 3 fighting fight VERB VerbForm=Ger 1 Saying ccomp 4 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 liar det 5 liar liar NOUN Number=Sing 3 fighting obj 6 » » PUNCT _ 3 fighting punct 7 instead instead ADV ExtPos=SCONJ 10 lighting mark 8 of of ADP _ 7 instead fixed 9 « « PUNCT _ 10 lighting punct 10 lighting light VERB VerbForm=Ger 1 Saying ccomp 11 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 12 fire det 12 fire fire NOUN Number=Sing 10 lighting obj 13 » » PUNCT _ 10 lighting punct 14 is be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin 16 spoonerism cop 15 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 16 spoonerism det 16 spoonerism spoonerism NOUN Number=Sing root root 17 . . PUNCT _ 16 spoonerism punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 say speech: assert gerund vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic 2 fight in a quote gerund a liar vn battle-36.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent liar=Co-Agent 3 light in a quote gerund a fire vn preparing-26.3-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fire=Product 4 is a present Saying a spoonerism tree rules
Example 3 Our teacher made a spoonerism and said «bunny phone» for «funny bone».
The tree, 12 words nmod:poss nsubj det obj cc conj punct amod obj punct case punct amod obl punct punct root Our PRON teacher NOUN made VERB a DET spoonerism NOUN and CCONJ said VERB « PUNCT bunny ADJ phone NOUN » PUNCT for ADP « PUNCT funny ADJ bone NOUN » PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Our our PRON Case=Gen Number=Plur Person=1 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 2 teacher nmod:poss 2 teacher teacher NOUN Number=Sing 3 made nsubj 3 made make VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin root root 4 a a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 5 spoonerism det 5 spoonerism spoonerism NOUN Number=Sing 3 made obj 6 and and CCONJ _ 7 said cc 7 said say VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 3 made conj 8 « « PUNCT _ 10 phone punct 9 bunny bunny ADJ Degree=Pos 10 phone amod 10 phone phone NOUN Number=Sing 7 said obj 11 » » PUNCT _ 10 phone punct 12 for for ADP _ 15 bone case 13 « « PUNCT _ 15 bone punct 14 funny funny ADJ Degree=Pos 15 bone amod 15 bone bone NOUN Number=Sing 7 said obl 16 » » PUNCT _ 3 made punct 17 . . PUNCT _ 3 made punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 make past Our teacher a spoonerism vn build-26.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spoonerism=Product 2 say speech: assert past Our teacher not said here bunny phone for funny bone vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V NP.topic»: agent=Agent phone=Topic
Example 4 Write three spoonerisms of your own.
nummod obj case nmod:poss nmod punct root Write VERB three NUM spoonerisms NOUN of ADP your PRON own ADJ . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Write write VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin root root 2 three three NUM NumForm=Word NumType=Card 3 spoonerisms nummod 3 spoonerisms spoonerism NOUN Number=Plur 1 Write obj 4 of of ADP _ 6 own case 5 your your PRON Case=Gen Person=2 Poss=Yes PronType=Prs 6 own nmod:poss 6 own own ADJ Degree=Pos 3 spoonerisms nmod 7 . . PUNCT _ 1 Write punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 write imperative you not said here three spoonerisms of your own vn scribble-25.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent spoonerism=Theme
Example 5 Many famous spoonerisms were probably invented by Spooner's students.
amod amod nsubj:pass aux:pass advmod case nmod:poss case obl:agent punct root Many ADJ famous ADJ spoonerisms NOUN were AUX probably ADV invented VERB by ADP Spooner PROPN 's PART students NOUN . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 Many many ADJ Degree=Pos 3 spoonerisms amod 2 famous famous ADJ Degree=Pos 3 spoonerisms amod 3 spoonerisms spoonerism NOUN Number=Plur 6 invented nsubj:pass 4 were be AUX Mood=Ind Number=Plur Person=3 Tense=Past VerbForm=Fin 6 invented aux:pass 5 probably probably ADV _ 6 invented advmod 6 invented invent VERB Tense=Past VerbForm=Part Voice=Pass root root 7 by by ADP _ 10 students case 8 Spooner Spooner PROPN Number=Sing 10 students nmod:poss 9 's 's PART _ 8 Spooner case 10 students student NOUN Number=Plur 6 invented obl:agent 11 . . PUNCT _ 6 invented punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 invent past · passive Spooner's students Many famous spoonerisms probably property vn create-26.4-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent subject=Result
Example 6 A spoonerism swaps sounds, not letters: «chew the dores» for «do the chores».
The tree, 13 words det nsubj obj punct advmod nmod punct punct parataxis det obj punct case punct conj det obj punct punct root A DET spoonerism NOUN swaps VERB sounds NOUN , PUNCT not PART letters NOUN : PUNCT « PUNCT chew VERB the DET dores NOUN » PUNCT for ADP « PUNCT do VERB the DET chores NOUN » PUNCT . PUNCT The words, one row each (CoNLL-U) # word lemma UPOS features head relation 1 A a DET Definite=Ind PronType=Art 2 spoonerism det 2 spoonerism spoonerism NOUN Number=Sing 3 swaps nsubj 3 swaps swap VERB Mood=Ind Number=Sing Person=3 Tense=Pres VerbForm=Fin root root 4 sounds sound NOUN Number=Plur 3 swaps obj 5 , , PUNCT _ 7 letters punct 6 not not PART Polarity=Neg 7 letters advmod 7 letters letter NOUN Number=Plur 4 sounds nmod 8 : : PUNCT _ 10 chew punct 9 « « PUNCT _ 10 chew punct 10 chew chew VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin 3 swaps parataxis 11 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 12 dores det 12 dores dore NOUN Number=Plur 10 chew obj 13 » » PUNCT _ 12 dores punct 14 for for ADP _ 16 do case 15 « « PUNCT _ 16 do punct 16 do do VERB Mood=Imp VerbForm=Fin 10 chew conj 17 the the DET Definite=Def PronType=Art 18 chores det 18 chores chore NOUN Number=Plur 16 do obj 19 » » PUNCT _ 10 chew punct 20 . . PUNCT _ 3 swaps punct
# verb tense, mood who what, whom to whom where when other roles by
1 swap present a spoonerism sounds letters tree rules 2 chew in a quote infinitive the dores vn chew-39.2 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent dore=Patient 3 do in a quote infinitive the chores vn act-114-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent chore=Eventuality
Text: the school dictionary of Mova's schools (world/data/dictionary-schools/), written for Mova. Trees: Mova's own parse — the en model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. Frames: Mova's frames reader (prag), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.
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