Investigation of the Slips of the Tongue Made by Arab News Anchors and Sports Commentators: Psycholinguistics Perspective

In this study, we aim to explore the instances of tongue slips made by Arab News anchors and sports commentators. Our selection of data was based on the slips that are readily available on YouTube, as well as their varied nature in terms of the errors they encompass. We delved into seventeen such slips, analyzing them from a psycholinguistic perspective. Through our analysis, we discovered six distinct types of errors occurring in phonological, semantic, morphological, and syntactic levels of the language. These types include substitution, anticipation, deletion, exchange, addition, and preservation. The prevalent form of occurrence is substitution, which takes place when two words that share similarities in meaning or sound are swapped. The researchers have reached the conclusion that these slip-ups can be attributed to cognitive challenges, social circumstances, confusion, and, most significantly, the speakers’ weak grasp of language. Additionally, the study suggests that slips of the tongue could serve as a valuable resource for comprehending the connection between the brain and different levels of language usage, thereby potentially benefiting pedagogy. From a social perspective, they have the potential to greatly influence the disclosure of hidden intentions and disrupt interactions among individuals.