Date: Thu, 10 Oct 1996 10:44:27 -0500

From: Scott Ann M ams8950[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]USL.EDU

Subject: push the envelope etc



Can anyone tell explain the phrase "push the envelope?" I've been hearing it

for some time in contexts where it appears to mean something like "to push

or stretch one's limits."



Also, I need to know about any published work on such speech errors as

"Hail Mary full of grapes, The Lord's whisky" for Hail Mary full of grace,

The Lord is with you, or "frost teeth" for floss teeth, or Mary had a little

lamb, her fleas (or feets) was white as snow.



I know Victoria Fromkin has done speech error work, but not this sort I think.

Anybody know anything or have any ideas on this kind of error. It appears

common among the illiterate or semi-literate, and of course children. Cases

where the speaker is not familiar with the written version of the song,

prayer, phrase or whatever.



Ann Martin Scott