MONDEGREENS Parodies are intentional but Mondegreens are unintentional
MONDEGREENS Parodies are intentional, but Mondegreens are unintentional. When children are learning adult language, when adults are learning a new academic disciplilne, or when anyone is learning a foreign language, we are often unsure how to analyze or break up the new words and phrases. Reanalysis is when we break up the words in ways that make a new meaning that was not intended in the original. These are called “mondegreens” because they are based on the following Scottish ballad: 1
The Bonny Earl of Murray Ye Highlands and ye Lawlands, Oh! Where ha’e ye been: They ha’e slain the Early of Murray, And they laid him on the Green. But the last two lines are reanalyzed as follows: They ha’e slain the Earl of Murray, And the Lady Mondegreen. 2
Mondegreens are especially prevalent during the Christmas season. In “The twelve days of Christmas” “Ten lords a-leaping” “Ten lawyers leaving” “Nine ladies dancing “Nine lazy Hansons” “Six geese a-laying” “Six geezers laying” “And a partridge in a pear tree” “And a paltry tin-affair tree. ” In “Silent Night, ” “Sleep in heavenly peace” “Sleep in heavenly peas” In “Santa Claus is comin’ to Town, ” “making a list and checkin’ it twice” “making a list and chicken and rice. ” In “Winter Wonderland, ” “Later on, we’ll conspire” “Later on, milk and spiders, ” and “Parson Brown” “sparse and brown” or “parched and brown. ” 3
Christmas Mondegreens on Channel 15’s The List: http: //www. thelistshow. tv/the-list/whats-trending-misfit-holiday-lyrics 4
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