[Boomer]

If I may seque just a little within this topic of how the way we use our language can be delightfully funny, I would like to throw in one of my favorites, the malapropism — mixing up words that sound close but have completely different meanings.

Example: I went to a home decor and remodeling show where lots of vendors were hawking their various wares from rented booths. One booth was selling mattresses.

They had a big professionally printed sign extolling all the wonderful ways in which sleeping on their adjustable mattress could improve health and comfort. It was a long list of how whatever was ailing you would miraculously get better.

My favorite was that the mattress would help someone who had a “hiatus” hernia. (I thought, “”Wow! That must have been some leave, vacation, sabbatical, break — maybe too much salsa dancing? Weight lifting camp?” Made me wonder.)

Mrs. Malaprop was a character in a play. She mixed up words in a funny way.