Irrespective of the dictionary

I think I have discovered why people persist in using the word, irregardless, which is not actually a word. it is a word with an extra "ir" in front. For emphasis, I guess.

I heard this word today listening to a podcast, "irrespective."

Irrespective is a good synonym for regardless. Eureka! maybe that's what happened: a little confusion between a word and a non-word which should or could have the same meaning.

Also, since inflammable and flammable mean the same thing, regardless and irregardless could mean the same. That is, if there was such a word.

Regardless of what it says in the dictionary, some people persist in using the misnomer, "irregardless."

Coming attractions: Irreverant. Relinquish.

Malapropism

A malapropism is a misused word. A spoonerism is a mispronounced word, when you transpose letters or sounds. For example, "noosperism" would be a spoonerism of spoonerism.

So, I'm trying to figure out what is the appropriate term for George Bush saying "nucular" instead of "nuclear." It is not a spoonerism, but it is mispronounced. Where did the extra "u" sound come from in the middle?


Note on last blog: thingamabob and thingamajig are in my dictionary. Watchamacallit is not. I wonder if these are regional expressions?