Every once in a while, a fellow doper uses a cutesy word like “edumacate” or “yeppers” or “preggy” instead of “educate” or “yes” or “pregnant.”
Is there a name for this sort of substitution?
Does everyone else find these as annoying as I do?
If you’re one of the people who do this, WHY???
You betchums.
1. Is there a name for this sort of substitution?
obnoxious
2. Does everyone else find these as annoying as I do?
Yep. (After Ethilrist’s comment I tried to think of something cute and witty, but I just couldn’t. It’s a slow-brain morning.)
Surely they’re just colloquialisms?
No
Because it’s not a big deal. And it’s ‘preggers’, anyway 
I think the OP’s looking for a more specific name, like a spoonerism or something. I don’t know of any particular name for it, but it is rather obnoxious and annoying.
Sheesh. Is it really that offensive and obnoxious to use ‘yeppers’ instead of ‘yes’? Can I say ‘yup’, ‘uh-huh’, or ‘yessiree’ without incurring your wrath?
No sirree bob-cat tail!
I’d add “hubby” to your list.
“Distorifcations”? “Buffysms”?
I class it with l33t spk - it’s gross if it’s someone’s primary mode of communication, but it’s funny if you can turn it on when you’re in the mood and want to be ironic.
Can I say yepski? I’ve been known to do that. Only it’s really spelled jepski.
How’bout coinkidink? Not that I say that one myself, mind you.
I’m going to use this more just to annoy you folks, mmmkay? 
It’s okay in casual conversation in limited quantites.
In answer to 1), how about “Talking like Ned Flanders”?
Well, funny you should mention Ned in between the time that I pressed ‘reply’ and the hamsters actually presented me with a box to type in…
Because I’ve found that I’ve been using the phrase “Ok’ly-Dok’ly” with increasing frequency lately.
I think “preggers” has been a predominately British slang term–Encarta describes it as an informal “UK” term, and until recently, I only seen it used in British papers and novels.
Curiously, though, it seems to have originated in the States. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, its first documented usage was in American books of the mid-20th century (specifically, the 1942 memoir One Pair of Feet by Monica Dickens).
It seems to be making a comeback in the US–two recent news stories on E! regarding the pregancies of Liv Tyler and Julia Roberts reported that the actresses are “preggers.”
I do find the word kind of annoying.
I call it “synonymalizing.”
“Preggers” is used in Australia. This is probably the home of these shortened words, we use so many of them. It’s not meant to be cutesy, and we don’t find them annoying. More often than not, if you use the formal word in some situations, people may think you are angry or arrogant.
Anyway, if you don’t like “preggers”, there’s always “up the stick”, “bun in the oven”, “up the duff”… See, it’s not so bad.
The US has it’s share of things which sound cutesy to me (but probably don’t cause offence on home soil). Stuff like answering the phone with “Yell-OH” drives me totally batshit. And all that “Significant Other” stuff.
Edumacate is just someone being cutesy… yeppers and preggers is just obnoxious and grounds for genetice sterilization in my view – especially preggers.
I hate that word.
Forgot my total pet hate (“edumacate” reminded me), and that is:
“I resemble that remark!”
Yes, I get it. I know it’s meant to be incorrect. It’s just bloody irritating and clapped out.
Aww dammit. I know I used that once here. ONCE. lol!
I don’t understand though (and I AM being serious), why preggers sounds obnoxious??? Can you explain why you think that? I thought it was someone’s attempt at being cutesy but never would have associated the term with being obnoxious.
Though…up the duff sounds obnoxious (and a little TMI). 
Interesting though…lol!