I'd like a list of sites with copious examples of scotch-o-grams,
originally a method to save on cost of words in telegrams. It is more
a puzzle type now. A series of words when spoken aloud that sound like
another series of words sorta kinda.

Mall rye awe carry

becomes

Mariah Carey

---

Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 02 May 2003 19:52 PDT

I have found thirteen examples of these "scotch-o-grams" (though only
two references, apparently from the same person, to the name
"scotch-o-grams").  I could provide these, plus some material on the
phenomenon that makes "scotch-o-grams" carry their double meaning. 
Would this be a sufficient answer?

---

Clarification of Question by theoriginalfool-ga on 02 May 2003 20:56 PDT

This is my first time using this google feature and perhaps I
overpriced the question.

13 scotch-o-grams / $50 = $3.85 is hardly sufficient.

What would be sufficient is 2 more pages of S-o-G like "Anguish
Languish" commented below. Sanctuary mulch!

Hello theoriginalfool-ga,

The scotch-o-gram-ish "Anguish Languish" page cited in pinkfreud-ga's
comment is a book reprinted on the Web, and so is quite a long page. 
Accordingly, I figure I should give you several, rather than two,
pages, so that you get your money's worth.  If you feel that the
number of examples is not sufficient, I would be happy to find more.

The kinds of phrases that comprise "Anguish Languish" are sometimes
called "oronyms", "mondegreens" (since "laid him on the green" sounds
like "Lady Mondegreen"), or "splines", as well as a sub- or related
category of "misheard lyrics".

Here is one fairly lengthy list of oronyms:

"Oronym"
The rec.puzzles archive
http://rec-puzzles.org/new/sol.pl/language/english/pronunciation/oronym

Here's a collection of mondegreens, by a columnist who really seems to
enjoy this topic:

"John Carroll ...mondegreens"
SF Gate
http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/carroll/mondegreens.shtml

The most extensive misheard lyrics sites appear to be:

The Archive of Misheard Lyrics
http://www.kissthisguy.com/
[Note: The name of this site comes from a misheard line in Jimi
Hendrix's Purple Haze -- "'Scuse me, while I kiss the sky"]

"Misheard Lyrics"
Am I Right
http://www.amiright.com/misheard/index.shtml

Incidentally, there are at least two song titles written in something
like Anguish Languish, so as to be deliberately misheard: "Mairzy
Doats" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)".  Indeed, Mairzy
Doats contains the lyrics: "Mairzy Doats and Dozy Doats and liddle
lamzy divey
A kiddley divey too, wouldn't you?"

"Mairzy Doats"
UMKC University Libraries
http://www.umkc.edu/lib/spec-col/ww2/WarNews/mairzy.htm 

"'"Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)'"
Super Seventies RockSite!
http://www.superseventies.com/sw_thankyoufalletinme.html

Here is a page on splines:

"Ex-Spline This"
Creative Puzzles
http://www.creativepuzzels.nl/spel/speel1/splines-2.htm

Finally, here are the scotch-o-grams:

"The Daily Joke Post!" (Nov 16, 1998)
Joke Post!
http://jokepost.com/daily/Nov1998/981116.html

"Telegrams"
The rec.puzzles archive
http://rec-puzzles.org/new/sol.pl/language/english/pronunciation/telegrams

Thank you for posting this question -- scotch-o-grams, oronyms, etc.
are a lot of fun!

- justaskscott-ga


Search terms used on Google:

scotch-o-grams
"anacin hospital"
"utica chanson"
"mairzy doats"
falettinme
"anguish languish"
oronyms
mondegreens
splines "mad gab"
"misheard lyrics"

If you like this kind of wordplay, I bet you will be tickled by
"Anguish Languish." There are lots of fractured fairy tales done in
Scotch-O-Gram style, and don't miss the songs at the bottom of the
page: "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow" becomes "Fur Hazy Jelly Gut
Furlough," and "Home on the Range" is "Hormone Derange." I love this
stuff!

http://www.crockford.com/wrrrld/anguish.html

I'm afraid I haven't found any other sites that offer "copious
examples." But I didn't want to leaf ewe wit nutting. ;-)

Hi original fool,

This page has tons of links to sites that have to do with Word Play,
Puzzles, etc: http://www.wolinskyweb.net/word.htm

--Cynthia