You say “spork”, I say “splayd”
Today, in part of a continuing argument about the naming of kitchen utensils, Phil sent me this link which supposedly clearly decides that a combination fork/spoon is clearly a spork, rather than a splayd.
The Wikipedia seems to indicate that the difference between a spork and a splade (sic) is that a splade has a sharp edge.
In an informal survey of some hundreds of people around Victoria (conducted mainly to win this “discussion”), most think that “spork” is a made up word, and overwhelmingly prefer the use of “splayd”, regardless of whether they have an edge or not.
As a question of spelling, in a standard search of the internet, “splade” occurs more frequently than “splayd” but I believe that this is all wrong. The nub of the problem, in my view, is that this is one of these kleenex/tissue type situations.
Splayd is actually a brand name, of a utensil which was invented by an Australian, and has even been honoured with a place named after it, splayd close. Therefore, these foreign links aren’t going to convince me. Many people (including my parents) were blessed with engagement and wedding presents of a set of stylish splayds in the 50s, 60s and 70s in Australia.
Anyway, so overwhelming was the brand of splayd for this type of cutlery that it squeezed any thoughts of the philistine “spork” out of the language. And given that a tastefully presented collection of splayds was the only contact most Australian families had with the fork/spoon hybrid, the dominant usage for any such hybrid became splayd.
QED.
[I can’t believe I spent time researching and writing this]
October 6th, 2005 at 8:34 am
Haha Anni.. I still say spork sounds more logical
A combination of (Sp)oon and f(ork).
October 6th, 2005 at 5:50 pm
Splayd no doubt about it. Splayd’s have been around for years, spork is a bastardise name for those who can’t spell splayd.
Agree with the originator of this discussion - who would use something called a spork? Would you use a goblute to drink if you thought is was between a goblet and a flute? or a bidlet for a toilet cross bidet?
October 22nd, 2005 at 4:03 am
Splayd are available from http://www.splayds.com I have recently purchased a set from here, the price was reasonable and delivery within 8 days. They are in Utah, USA.
November 1st, 2005 at 9:58 am
no drink full milk
November 6th, 2005 at 6:36 pm
i drink full milk 2
November 7th, 2005 at 8:28 am
I can’t believe this conversation just got back onto the signposts front page. I only heard the word spork about three nights ago for the first time at a friends house. We’ve always used Splayds. I’ll have to post her the link!
December 24th, 2005 at 7:59 pm
I came across a Splayd for the first time the other day and I’ve been wondering…If a Splayd is a spoon, fork, and knife all in one, where is the fork in the name? Spork makes sense to me…and Knork…so I’d always assumed a spoon/fork/knife combo would be something like a spnork (or a sporife or spnifke…there’s so many possible combinations). To me it seems essential to have at least some representation of all three utensils in the name. But eh…that’s just me.
January 14th, 2006 at 12:35 am
So, does anyone know where i can get splaydes in OZ? This is the 1st site that popped up when i was researching where they’re sold so i can add them to my bridal registry! (Yes, i am a child of the 70’s…..just)
January 22nd, 2006 at 12:15 am
try these Talie:
http://www.remogeneralstore.com
http://www.dstore.com
March 5th, 2006 at 5:12 pm
splayd, or splade, does not have to have a blade. The word ’spork’ is a made up word people with no respect for language made up. Its like americans spelling colour color,