Malapropisms(Ludicrous-English Caused by Blunders and Incompetence)Be aware of faulty speech and writing habits so you can confirm and strengthen the good onesThe problems presented in this and the other files may be surprising and some will surely be amusing; but be aware that every one of them is genuine and every one of them has at some time posed a problem. So, the purpose of presenting these confusions is to call attention to such inaccuracies and thus to correct or eliminate them. Language blunders will result in being marked as ignorant or ludicrous by the audience, and such language mistakes will detract from the message that the communicator wants to transmit.No attempt has been made to present exhaustive lists of usage and grammar; instead the guides treat only those problems that have traditionally been considered especially vexing by users of English. The purposes of these pages should be considered at four levels of usage: the two levels, formal and informal, each subdivided into the two categories of spoken or written language. If a writer, or speaker, does not observe certain patterns of English, confusion will result and no one will correctly understand what the person is trying to say. Language blunders will result in being marked as ignorant or ludicrous by the audience, and such language mistakes will detract from the message that the communicator wants to transmit. Is it possible that the writers of the headlines and ads shown below realized how confusing and ridiculous their presentations are and that they have become famous only because they convey obvious carelessness and misapplications of the language? Nothing is quite as important to clear and accurate expression as the ability to distinguish between words of similar, but not identical, meaning. To choose wrongly is to leave the listener or reader with a fuzzy or mistaken impression. To choose well is to give both illumination and a clear understanding of what we want to convey. The Origin of the Word Malapropism“She’s as headstrong as an allegory on the banks of the Nile” and “He is the very pineapple of politeness” are two of the absurd pronouncements from Mrs. Malaprop that explain why her name became synonymous with the ludicrous misuse of English. A character in Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s play The Rivals (1775), Mrs. Malaprop consistently uses language malapropos, that is, inappropriately. The word malapropos comes from the French phrase mal á propos, made up of mal; "bad, badly" and á, "to" and propos, "purpose, subject"; and means "inappropriate". The Rivals was a popular play, and Mrs. Malaprop became enshrined in a common noun, first in the form malaprop and later in malapropism; which is first recorded in 1849. Perhaps that is what Mrs. Malaprop feared when she said, "If I reprehend any thing in this world, it is the use of my oracular tongue, and a nice derangement of epitaphs!" Language Is Essential to Our Success in LifeLanguage is an integral part of our lives. It is a vehicle for growth which involves exploring beings, objects, events, ideas, and experiences. It is making sense of the world using the meaning and context of self, family, and cultural group. It is personal, socially and functionally; because it affects our perceptions, degrees of understanding, our acquisitions of and degrees of knowledge, thinking, problem-solving abilities, and social skills. It is an active process learned through its various applications and it continually evolves with improvements or lingers in a state of stagnation. It all depends on how we apply our learning skills. Just What Does Ludicrous Mean?Ludicrous (LOO di kruhs): Causing derisive laughter because something is so amusingly absurd, utterly ridiculous, incongruous, foolish, abnormally unreasonable, and wholly unsuitable for a situation. Ludicrous was borrowed from Latin ludicrus, from ludicrum, "joke, amusement", and from ludere, "to play". The current sense of causing derisive laughter, ridiculous, is first recorded in English in 1782, in Frances Burney's Cecilia. English usage is sometimes more than mere taste, judgment, and education. Sometimes it is sheer luck, like getting across the street.
Ludicrous Headlines, Advertisements, and Other MalapropismsExamples of Ludicrous-Newspaper Statements
Our Reg. Steak SANDWICH 2 for only $2.99 (ingredients extra) To err is human, but when the eraser wears out ahead of
the pencil, you’re overdoing it. For other eponyms, see the Eponymous Words Directory. If there are any numbers below, use them to see other pages in this unit.Back to Index | Search Box | Main Index The Main-Word Info pageThe + sign at the end of a unit title means all of the words in that unit have definitions.Directory of special content and topicsDo you want to help to make this dictionary bigger and better?
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