1938-01-20 — Page 6

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1008.

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The

IT'S

GOOD TO SPEAK SLANG

LANG has had a good overdone till it became a cliche

of facetiousness-a meaningless many defenders in re- phrase from the Robot vocabu- cent years. It is lary.

claimed that it is vivid |

and picturesque-living lan- The expression "O.K." has guage in comparison, pre- had a longer life, and justifiably sumably, with the dead so. It is an extremely useful language of literature.

abbreviation in business life- an indispensable shorthand. It To my mind there are seems to me quite probable that some kinds of slang that the time will come when even are worth defending and Archbishops of Canterbury and others that are not. Some Vice-Chancellors of the univer

sities will slang words and expressions "OK."

Others

mark documents

are so good that they I trust, however, that they become a permanent part will avoid such facetious vari- of the language.

ants on it as "Oke" and "Okey- have no more vitality than Dokey" and even such a tedious- the ordinary foxtrot and ly needless locution as: perish quickly by general O.K. by me." consent.

"It's

Slang has two great justifica- tions. One is when it adds use- It is these perishers among words that give slang a bad ful or picturesque words and ex- name... Take the slang use of pressions to the language. The word "definitely," for other is when it gives those who *the

talk it soldiers, schoolboys, example, which is so common to-day. It is a more sound issu- undergraduates, and thieves, for example-the happy feeling that

Hongkong Telegraph. in from the mouth, sometimes they are talking the language of

THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 1938.

THE WAR GOES ON

An authoritative statement

meaning, scarcely anything at a special community.

铲

all. It is repeated on all sides In the matter of usefulness. s-if by a race of Robots. This and picturesqueness, slang has is not living language at all; it contributed richly to the Eng- is the language of mechanical lish vocabulary. That useful dolls.

word "mob" was once slang. "Flummoxed" is an admirable word that was used by Tony Weiler when he declared that Mr. Pickwick would be flum- moxed if he did not get an "alleybi" in the breach-of-pro- mise case.

that the word "top-hole" as an expression of high praise is al- ready as dead as the Dodo. It was already obsolete, according to

Mr. Eric Partridge's new "Dictionary of Slang," by 1916.

that Marshal Chiang Kai-shek The rate of mortality in this kind of slang is, fortunately, does not intend to quit his post,high. How good it is to know that he does, not intend to

"Six Months-and Lay Off the Dames" negotiate for peace on terms entailing surrender, but that, as

"rhino," "spondulicks" or "the Slang is an attempt to trans- a matter of fact, he is laying

"Penny-fathing," again, gives ready"? Is conversation liveller late ordinary speech into a plans for intensification of the

us a real image of the old high and more picturesque when wo livelier, more knowing language.. bicycle with one large wheel and say "tanner," "bob" and "quid" When I was a child, I knew boys campaign against the invader,

one very small one; and who than when we use the language who would threaten me, as 1 puts a full stop to the paragraph

"Posh was little better-and could write a history of strikes of the Chancellor of the Exche- passed in the street, with “a of rumours and suspicions whichthis, it is pleasant to learn from without making use of the ex- quer about money? has been growing a bit beyond Mr. Partridge, has been "avoided pressive word "blackleg?" "Hot by polite. society since about air" seems to me the perfect 1930."

S. MOUTRIE & CO., LTD. would have it, the Central

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ཇཱ

punch on the smeller" or "a. clout on the listener," and seem ed to derive great satisfaction

phrase for what it means, and When I was a boy, we usually from their avoidance of the For some reason or other slang "bunkum" has proved by its con- spoke among ourselves of a pedantic use of such words as words expressive of enthusiasm tinued existence that it supplied penny as a "wing" and of a half- "nose", and "ear." seem to have the shortest life a long-felt want.

penny as a "make," as if to call

rather

people.

*"Dictionary of Slang and By Unconventional English." Eric Partridge. Routledge, $2 28..

The the bounds of credulity. statement given. by a high official source to the Hongkong Telegraph, yesterday needs no supplementary explanation. It of all. When I was a boy, every- It would be interesting to go a coin by its correct name were

If you wish to avoid pedantic thing Was "Tipping" or through Mr. Partridge's "Dic- a pedantic habit of grown-up

English, you will find all the is a compilation of cold and

"spiffing" to-day. Nothing is tionary" and put a mark oppo-

words you need in Mr. Part- calculated facta, and it gives the even "toney" or "dinky, though site every word by which, in I think it may be an instine ridge's mountainous collection. impression that far from being some things, especially in Ame- one's opinion, the language has tive desire to avoid pedantry He has cast so wide a net in panicky, as some tale-bearers rica,' are still "gwell."

been permanently enriched. Only that makes human beings so unconventional speech, that his Slang words' that perish do a very small percentage; I fancy, constantly give what might be "Dictionary" cannot be com

called nicknames to things-to mended. ELB ♫ Sunday school authorities in China are grimly so, I imagine, because after the would pass the test.

call a policeman a "bobby," a prize; but it contains a world of interest of novelty is gone, they There are a good many words "pecler" or a "copper." Slang interest for all who are curious Such determina- determined.

bave no other interest left. As that one would be inclined to also appeals to our elementary about curiosities of speech. tion must be based on confidence. they become old-fashioned, they put in the "doubtful" category

as when wo sense of humour, In any event it breeds that de deaden

than enliven words, for example, referring say of a man who is drunk that human speech. sirable quality of mind in à

to money, drinks and policemen. he is "well-olled," "stotious," Over-use takes the life out-of nation at war.

Is the language richer for the "blind to the world," or "full up slang words and expressions as existence of such words

as inside the tiddley." Simultaneously with the state-it takes the life out of quota- ment of Chiang's. intentions tions from the poets. There came a cabled outline of China's was a time when "I don't think" aims yesterday. From Hankow was quite amusing expression in an, apt setting. But its use was the authorities made it known that China is fighting for· na-'

who possess tional existence and the main-

When people say that they are "at tenance of international treaties, the qualities which have won «CHIPSHAPE," as a term of ap- or boaster "gails under false colours." |

proval, shows how the spirit of Those in easy circumstances are "on loggerheads" with someone they may not understand that loggerheads were Bul we judge that the war, the affection, loyalty and trust the ocean has permeated the speech an oven keel." from China's point of view, is of the people, and that they of those who dwell in the scogirt But when we call a person a wast-iron bars used aboard ship, and very

isics known as Great Britain. No er" we are using the wrong word, handy in a fracos. mainly one of self-preservation. have courage and skill to direct other language contains so many

are her in a long defensive cam-of ships expressions that smack waister." The waist of the ship] "taken the gilt of the gingerbread"

phrases and The international treaties

man

who has known no more of was manned by the hands doing without at all realising that they are by-tho-way. Besides, when no-paign. From the humanitarian ocean travel than a trip or the rough and dirty work, such as was recalling the stirring days of Nelson despised by able seamen. Tho and Collingwood. The elaborate one else loses much sleep over point of view the world must be "Saucy Sally will tell you that he is "walster," therefore, was rather look carving on the stern of an old-time

"taken aback." Τα sailor this international, agreements which moved to pity for this spectacle means that the oils have been laid ed down upon by the rest of the line-o'-battleship was called "ginger- brend work" in the Fleet, and it was Another mistake the landsman always well gilded. Years of cruis one party or another has already of almost unexampled horror fat against the mast by a puff of wind. The familiar "lend a hand" violated, it is unreasonable to which is sweeping, China. But is a sca-term, as is the equally makce is when he says that "all is ing and fighting dulled the gilding

plain sailing." What he means is hence the expression which we tre- familiar "sheer

"plane salling," which, according to quently use without at all knowing. expect, or suggest that China is at the same time all peoples but

It is interesting to trace back the the science of navigation, is calculat- what it means.

* taking the burden of their de-her enemics

seafaring ing a vessel's course as it the car's are moved by real meanings of some

phrases which have become so much surface were flat instead of rounded;" Modern colloquialisms owe a good. fence upon her shoulders. No, China's heroism.

a part of our ordinary talk that we

**

deal to the Navy. For an example, forget that have over come from the

off," which many "To the bitter end" does not mean there in "push what the landsman thinks it means. landsmen use daily to mean going It has nothing to do with the last ex-away or departing. When a boat

she has leaders

SHIPSHAPE ENGLISH

seafaring.

Ben ut

We

at all.

speak of a thing being "touch

*

In Nelson's timo It was spell

crew.

*

**

word has

They tell one that something has.

**

it is best to keep the issue clear. When Tokyo, refeiring to It has reached a point, now, China's refusal of the peace and go" without knowing that to tremity of a desperate situation. The leaves a ship, the man in the stern- when the man-in-the-street in terms reportedly offered a of

puts it against the ship's side, and overy country in the world must German intermediary, says that a ship that just manages to scrape a cable around the bills.

through shoal water without actually

quite literally pushes off. There is recognise just what is happen- the National Government grounding. Neither do we realise Then there is the phrase, "eut and a well-known Navy phrase, “I'm ing in the Far Eas

Far East to-day; and "Ignored the

that the well-known

expression run." In this the first

In the boat; push off," to indicato a magnanimity ill all is blue" originally meant nothing to do with the stong "cut," selfish egoist who thinks only of his China will not win more shown by the Japanese Imperial a ship putting out from port got for to abscond. To cut and run" own convenience.

into the open sea, where all was blue in sullor phraseology, means to cut “Waah-ou!” recalls the slate on sympathy than she already has Government," people in touch water.

the hempen cables and run before which signals were taken down, only **

the wind.

to be washed out when another was been given by making of her with the facts are not vastly

Something we say that we were That well-known expression, "The to be recorded. The slang "to ditch" desperate defence a sort of impressed with Japan's show of "brought up all standing by a devil to pay and no pltch hot," is re-in the senso of abandon has ¤ crusade in the name of righte distress at the continuation of maladroit xemark in the course of dolent of the sea. In it, however, the naval origin. To the sailor the ocean conversation. This comes from the enemy of mankind is not referred to: Is the ditch, and to "ditch" anything

it overboard. hostilities. It must have old days of all and applied to a ship The devil was a large and important is to throw

under way which was suddenly scam in a ship's deck, and to pay it For years landlubbers have used. It is China's misfortune that been recognised by now that stopped. No real shakes referred was to caulle it. Being an extra large the word "bone" in the sense of stealing Ballots know about the sho is in the way of expansion nothing short of surrender will the shaking of a sail by a light beam, it wanted an extra large upper case of Lieutenant Bone, who, a ma

wind.

karpe kof.pitch to complete the: process of of an ambitious power. It is satisfy Tokyo, Marshal Chiang As beate a maritime people, wo caulking properly. Therefore, it time ago, so far forgot that he was her good fortune, and paradoxic has delivered his answer. The are found of describing others in naue there was no pitch hot,, the work on officer and a gentleman

tical terms. An able and experienced would be delayed, and somebody peculate a ship's funda, se ally it may be her sorrow, that war goes on.

man knows the ropes," a hypocrite would get into trouble.

Dusness.

na to

Vaughn Dryden