Spoonerisms Named for William Archibald Spooner (July 22, 1844–August 29, 1930) a famous Oxford don who lends his name to the linguistic phenomenon. Many folks, including myself, suffer from this mixing up of the syllables. I once asked a waitress for a "chilled sicken greaser " salad (grilled chicken ceaser), as my wife constantly reminds me. They tend to come out when I'm tired or under stress. My own theory is that it's linked to dyslexia, a condition probably unknown in Spooner's day.
Rudolph Rudinsky, Soviet Commisar, was walking across Red Square one day with his wife. Suddenly a slight precipitation began to descend upon them. "Oh, it's snowing!", said Mrs Rudinsky,. "No, it's raining", said Rudolph. "No, darling," said Mrs Rudinsky, "It's snowing." To which he replied, "Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear!"