SLIP OF TONGUE

Suerwan A.Introduction Slip of tongue is defined as unintended, non-habitual deviation (s) from a speech plan (Dell in Poulise, 1999: 1). Baars (in Poulisse, 1999: 1) has characterized slip of tongue as inadvertent errors which are beyond the speakers control, which are not representative of their ordinary language use and which can be corrected by them are asked to do so. It is the result of problems in controlling the speech production process. Slip of tongue is one type of speech error which appears to be more complex compared with the above mentioned common speech error. To carefully explain this phenomenon, scholars have made attempt to subdivide into two major categories: selection and assemblage errors 11989: 248). Slip of tongue can be meaning an accidental and usually trivial mistake in speaking. B.Selection errors Selection errors are errors in which a wrong item is chosen, where something has gone wrong with the selection process. 2 the selection errors may include three types of error, namelt: (a) semantic errors (similar meaning errors), (b) malapropism (similar sound errors), and (c) blends. 1).Semantic errors Semantic or similar meaning errors are very common, even frequently, pass unnoticed. The most common semantic errors are in the form of word selection or substitutions, in which slots are filled by wrong words. The target and the error tend to come from the same grammatical class. Words are semantically related when they are: Antonyms (high low) Synonyms (woman lady) Hyponyms (category member i.e. fruit apple) The same category (knife fork) Associates (bread evokes butter) These pairs of word are often substituted, which results in errors. The tongue slips arise because the intrusive words other than the target word are too readily
1

Aitchison.Introducing Socinguistic,Routledge,New York,1989,p.248 Ibid.

available at the time it is being programmed3. The intrusive words are semantically related to the target word. Some examples by Taylor (1996) below: Cecil rode his bike to school tomorrow, I mean yesterday He have come, I am sorry has come They will be good for boxes good for books. 2)Malapropism Malapropism is a type of tongue slip which is named Mrs. Malaprop, a character in one of Sheridans play, the rival who continually confused words which sounded alike such as: Reprehend for apprehend Derangement for arrangement Epitaphs for epithets Alligator for allegory Tambourines for trampolines Which are phonetically similar, both share the first sound, the final sound, the distinctive features of some sound, the number of syllables, and stress on the first syllable4. example: If I reprehend anything in this world, it is the use of my oracular tongue and a nice derangement of epitaphs She is a headstrong as an allegory of the banks of the Nile. Such tongue slip not only occurs in Sheridans play but in real life as well such as in the following examples: An enemy officer said, We should be reminiscing in our duty if we did not investigate.
A woman who was hungry said, Im simply ravishing5.

The substitution of the word reminisce for

remiss and the word ravishing for

ravenous may have arisen because the speaker have incomplete phonetic representations of the words they were thinking of and so they selected the first word sounded right. The
3

Clark and Cark.The Language War,CA:University of California,Berkely Press,1977,p.238

Taylor.Sociolinguistic:Method and Interpretation, Black Well Publishing,London,1966,p.104

5

Clark and Cark. Loc. cit., p. 288

intruding words (reminisce and ravishing) do not differ much from the target words (remiss and ravenous) in their syllable structure and stress pattern6. We have discussed about selection errors which are connected with meaning and selection errors connected with the sound of the word. in fact, however, the two categories cannot be clearly cut; the two often overlap. Although childrens mistakes are usually purely phonetic ones, as in the phrases below: Mussolini pudding (semolina pudding) The naughty story car park (multi-story car park) The majority of adults selection errors have some types of semantic as well as phonetic relation, as in the following examples: You keep new born chicks warm in an incinerator (an incubator). The malapropism incinerator and the target word incubator have phonetic similarity as well as semantic similarity. Both words are connected with the idea of heat
You go under a runaway bridge. (A railway bridge). Both words, a

runaway and a railway, are similar sound. The two words also have similar meaning, describing a track for a means of transport. The semantic relation, however, is not always between the two words that are being confused. Very often the intruding idea comes in from the surrounding context such as in learning to speak is not the same thing as learning to talk (to walk)7. 3)Blends Blends are variation of semantic errors which occur when two words are blended together form a new one. Such errors occur new infrequently. When a concept can be expressed by two equally likely alternative words, a speaker may be unsure as to which word will best express her/his concept and in the moment of indecision may select the two words and blended them into one8. this phenomenon is exemplified below:

6

Please exland that (explain and expand) Not in the sleast (slightest and least)

Ibid., p. 288 Aitchison. Op. cit., p. 249 Taylor. Loc. cit., p. 104

(Aitchison, 1989: 250) Other examples taken from Fromkin 9are as follows: Slickery (slick and slippery) Spaddle (spank and paddle) Shimmy (stomach and tummy) Shromkin (she and Fromkin) In these examples the two source words are alternatives for the same slot, although not always synonyms such as in she and Fromkin. C.Assemblage errors Assemblage errors are errors in which the correct word choice has been made, but the items chosen have been incorrectly assembled. There are three major types of assemblage errors, that is; transposition (spoonerism), anticipation, and repetitions. These errors may change words, syllables, or sounds. 1)Transposition or Spoonerism Spoonerism is an error in speech in which the initial sounds or letters of two or more words are accidentally transposed, often to humorous effect, as in you have hissed the mystery lectures. A phrase in which the initial consonants of two words have been swapped over, creating an amusing new expression. Appear to have been inadvertent slips, but Spoonerisms may also be used for deliberately humorous effect: W. H. Auden referred dismissively to Keats and Shelley as Sheets and Kelly, while a feminist theatre group toured Britain in the 1970s under the name Cunning Stunts. The word spoonerism is derived from the name of William Archibald Spooner (1844 1930), an English clergyman and scholar of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centurys. A nervous man who committed many "spoonerisms." Such transpositions are often made intentionally for comic effect He has been reported to have made such errors frequently, wittingly but probably deliberately. There are some examples of spoonerisms / transposition errors made by W.A.Spooner: he meant to say I saw you light a fire , but he said I saw you fight a liar. he meant to say May I show you to another seat? but he said, May I sew you to another sheet?
9

Clark and Clark. Op. cit., p. 28

4

Generally Spoonerisms which are produced accidentally are transpositions between words that resemble one another phonetically, such as cuss and kiddle, slow and sneet (kiss and cuddle, snow and sleet). Spoonerisms are commonly heard as slips of the tongue resulting from unintentionally getting one's words in a tangle, they can also be used intentionally as a play on words. In some cultures, spoonerisms are used as a rhyme form used in poetry, such as German Schttelreime. Spoonerisms are commonly used intentionally in humor, especially drunk humor. Transposition errors commonly occur in every unit of the articulatory program in comprehension. The articulatory program in comprehension must deal with a hierarchy of units, from smallest to largest, as follow: -Distinctive features, like voicing -Phonetic segments, like [b] -Syllable, like [bro] - Words, like [broken], and -The larger constituents like broken promise Distinctive Features Some examples of tongue- slip in this unit, taken from Fromkin10: -Clear blue sky -Terry and Julia Glear plue sky Derry and Chulia

What is switched in the first sentence is not the phonetic segments [ C ] and [ B ], but only the voicing of the two segments, [voisless] and [voiced]. In the transposition or spoonerism, [ C ] is voiced to become [ G ],and [ B ] is derived of its voicing to become [ P ] Phonetic Segments Example: -Brake fluid Syllable Example: -Animal Aminal blake fluid heft lemisphere -Left hemisphere -

10

Ibid., p. 276-277

Larger Units In this unit, Fromkin has observed a number of tongue- slips as in these examples: - A tank of gas-A weekend for maniac a gas of tank a maniac for weekend

2)Anticipations Anticipation is error in which a later segment takes the place of an earlier segment. Example: Target: Reading list Take my bike Error: leading list bake my bike

In the first example, the speaker wanted to say reading list, but he said leading list. He anticipated the [l] at the beginning of list in his pronunciation of reading. The word reading is said to be the target word, and list is said to be the origin of error; it is where the [l] comes from. 3).Repetitions Repetition error is the situation where a speaker repeats one or more words in a row. According toRepetitions are relatively unusual because normal people have very effective wipe the slate clean mechanism11. As soon as they have uttered a word, the phonetic form no longer remains to clutter up the main For examples. -Turn on the heater / the heater switch -isnt it cold? More like a Sunday in February. -It is not too bad more like February in March.

D.Clonclusion
In learning English is a habit of using language support Self for a moment that any cheaper and any time,for that we use the language must be understood seeks Basics of
11

Aitchison. Op. cit., p. 263

6

language with itself .Because foundation of learning the language is understood parts Regarding the language of the itself.In learn English there are some parts that must be understood, so that there is a harmony in it, such as speaking, reading, writing, listening to cheap. Speaking is to learn English Elements Inside,it is a form of response Basics From the previous, so that science is not jammed in then the theory must be accustomed to speak,speak also must use techniques known as pronouncation science in English, slip of tongue is part of the technique engineering pronouncation in English.Slip of tongue is part of the techniques of speaking neighbor to the understanding that the theory should be studied.Origin from which the noise in the ring is learning main purpose of this theory and how we should issue a sound to be true and beautiful sound to be heard.So this theory is very important for students who want to learn English properly and thoroughly.

REFERENCES
Clark and Cark. 1977. The Language War.Berkely Pres . CA:University of California.
7

Taylor. 1966. Sociolinguistic:Method and Interpretation. London : Black Well Publishing. Aitchison. 1989. Introducing Socinguistic. New York : Routledge.

impson, John. 2008. Oxford English Dictionary. London: Oxford University Press.

SLIP of TONGUE
PAPER Written and Submited to fulfill The Assigment of Writing IV Subject
8

Written by: Suerwan SIN:26.09.6.2.156

LANGUAGE AND LETTERS DEPARTMENT SURAKARTA STATE INSTITUTE OF ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS SURAKARTA 2009

pronouncation in english, slip of tongue is part of the techniques of speaking neighbor to the understanding that the theory should be studied. origin from which the noise in the ring dalah pebelajan main purpose of this theory and how we should issue a sound to be true and beautiful sound to be heard. So this theory is very important for students who want to learn English properly and thoroughly.

10