AMERICAN LANGUAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1924, Page 1

AMERICAN LANGUAGE

LATEST FASHION IN SI. A NO. A v, it once said that the British and the Americans had everything in common except their language. "You are a Hat lyre." . aid a pretty American girl to a jaded dame partner in a clear voice which carried far enough for other ef■’iill's to torn round to see what she meant. The phrase was apt. She aas bored and languid. A year ago she would have told him he had im "pep." or pr.-sibly that he was a

'" poor boob." :. - band’ Pell." a '-bonehead," or a -"-tupe." I.iut a lltit tyre is the latest and smartest American term of leproach and who my-, there are not bullions in slang? In the Lnttcd edetes of America tlie.v change every Ice inntii;; s. li one wants in get rid of sash a partner goodnaturedly. or indeed of any person, there seen)- in he magic in idle ervptie curt tie---, of "Skiduo,” "Park yom'seif." and •■On your way." We max' no! get the magic, hut the eim-rican who tbring lints ili.-niis-ed does. "On. baby.'" murmured an American coll.y.’.e hoy in a Hauling tie when he watreating a girl to a view recently. ■•Alta hoy!" she giggled, emi in gieef:i! i horn, thev exclaimed : "Oh, nl it out.” (tiiiie myniic to those about them, this aim-ersation, hut really

meaning a fondue--- for each other with a. deiennination not to he silly. ".Mal-m it ■nanny." advised an American father when his pretty daught'-t decided she must change her frock l.ei'orc driving; in tie park with h:m lie did not mean the frock, lie mead that she should hade. "Can it !" your American aerptain lance may exclaim if you start giving hint a detailed explanai ion. "lea yoursell,” il you are annoyed; "l.augli that off,’' d hc‘ doubts what you are telling him; while. "Yes. we have no bananas," apparently means incredibility, hoi covers oilier feeling:-; also. Terms of affection and admiration among vomer Americans include •-('ntm," . ‘-fskeer.ies," "lion,” < r "ICiddo” : term-, of. gond-nat.tired, reproach are even more cryptic with “(Jazaho," or “51.u1" and "Pini'io.” You may he told, as a threat, that vou will get the “fur-liiied hath-tuh” or the “cut-glass hammer.” A ; ear ago you would have learned with surprise that you got somebody’s “goat,” with-it had nothing to do with the peaceful munolier of tins and -ncrely meant that you were Irritating. All this, by way of playfulness, you understand. 'flii- more kindly the American feels towards you. the more freely he will speak his o-.wi tongue. The onlv way renllv to surprise and hurt him is to suggest that lie uses slang!