Maddenation
The Mispronounciation Game
I thought we had already put the Mispronounciation Game in Maddenation, but I just did a search and couldn’t find it. Anyway, the idea is to pronounce ALL the syllables in a word, ideally in a way that completely obscures the word. Dan may have started it officially, but of course, people have been mispronouncing words in jest for a long time. I’m going to make this short and let the comments clarify and expand on the concept. The first word I remember is “congratulations” which Dan would pronounce, “con-grat-a-LAT-i-ons.” Later, and this happened on Dan’s campus visit to Notre Dame, when we stayed in the Morris Inn, I added what has become the quintessential mispronounciated word, “orientation” which I pronounced, “o-RI-on-ta-TI-on.” The beauty of this mispronunciation is that most people can’t even recognize what the original is supposed to be. Yeah!
Dad • Games • 07/08/04 • 4 comments
Comments
Patrick • 07/09/04 • 2:25 PM:It’s con-GRA-too-LA-tee-ons (more stress on LA). Jeez. (Your essential miss was the “too,” which you spelled “t-a.” No way, Dadderoo.)
And I don’t know if the game has “the” or “game” in its name. “Mispronounciation” is enough for me. Maybe something like “Mispronounciation: the mispronunciation game.”
Dad • 07/09/04 • 5:20 PM:I didn’t miss anything. Your “too” gives too much emphasis to the syllable. Dan says it more like, “con-gra-da-LA-tee-ons.”
Please don’t call it “Mispronounciation: the mispronunciation game.” That would be reedick, you louse!
Dan • 07/11/04 • 8:10 PM:The “game” started in the basement when I thought of mispronouncing “congratulations,” so I yelled up to dad (I was looking for a can or something on the wooden shelf for mom or something), “Hey Dad! Con-GRAH-doo-LAA-dee-ons.” He was confused for a second, but by the time I found the can or whatever and went back upstairs he said, “Hey Dan…cong-gruhh-tool-lah-TEEE-yonz.” And the game was born. And now we’ve begun to “spell” these mispronunciations, which is proving difficult to do. I just spent 5 minutes spelling that (those?) word(s?).
“Orientation” was amazing. Dad and I were staying in the Morris Inn because I was moving to ND the next day and was about to go through transfer orientation. It was pretty much another, “Hey Dan. Oh-RYE-on-tuh-TYE-on.”
The thing about this game is that those are the only two words that we’ve ever discovered worked well. Sure, there are other words that work, but mostly because those words also have “tion” endings. Anyway, “Mispronounciation” is a game I’ve played in my head for years and it just happened to make it out.
And about the name of the game: I think it’s funny because the title is clever, but not in the same way the game is clever. In the game, we’re mispronouncing words, but in the title we’re just making up a word that is similar to “mispronunciation.” I suggest we rethink the title. I’m sure Pat will freak out about this and be “grammically” correct in his response.
Patrick • 07/12/04 • 2:17 AM:I like the title as is, but if we want to change it, why not just change how we pronounce it. Maybe MY-sprahn-ounk-I-aton. Still, I like the simple, misleading poetry of “mispronounciation.” Think of our other games (and get them entries): The Radio Game, Reverse Voice, Carrot Fights, Mortar Attack, Corrugated Assault, etc. All pretty simple names. Hey, let’s get entries for these. If you were a founder of the game, write it up! (I’ll get to work too.)
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