AMERICAN SLANG.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1199, 24 January 1914, Page 4

AMERICAN SLANG.

Slowly but surely the Amerksms arc evolving a language of their own, constructed entirely on English. Americans eiaini that they speak the purest English ami Australians the worst (wntas ‘■W.H.f." in tin' Sydney Morning Herald,). li a visitor aboard an American warship were informed that, that 'Vat guv holding down the chair over there” was tlie commander, ho would hatdiy i)clievo that Americans did speak the purest English. The American, like almost everyone else, cannot sec his own faults. Kte thinks that the English language, as used in the United States, is freer 1 rom slang than ~TI is elsewhere. How ho can believe this after the hatehallers, the vaudeville artists, and many of the newspaper writers have done with it, very few people will understand. In the United States slang seems to b

given preference over pum language, except in a few rare instances. f J ho men who* use precise language are

“highbrows.” Tile men who are ignorant and cannot behave properly are “toughs” and "roughnecks.’ Baseball plavers are "ballists” and "hall players!” and a left-handed _ pitcher is a "southpaw.” r l In l spoiling ciitiinsiasl is a "lan.” The origin of'the word "lan” is hazy, hut it has been denned as a derivative of fanatic, which, judging by the enthusiasm displayed, would he about the exact origin. The sjhwtatois at a match, who do not patronise the grandstand, are "bleachers,” obviously because they sit in the din. and the ,seats that are not reserved are ‘•rush” seats.

A stranger in that strange land oi the United Slates may well ve panloned for not .understanding the to •‘(donut across with the ma/.uma,” The English equivalent is “please hand over the money.” A man’s head over 'mere is Ida “dome” and his "hear.” It a lady at a theatre has a beautiful _ head of hair it would he good English for another envious lady sifting at the bach of her to observe to her friend

•■that that hair never grew on her bean ; why there's enough there' to stuff a pillow.” "Some'" is a word that has a strong vogue in the United States. A great deal of expression can he thrown into this little word. Ear in stance, a "t-\vir-Icr.” who, by the way. is a variation for a baseball pitcher', can be. formed ",somo twirler,” if he is good. just, the satin' as an attractive young lady may be referred to as "some chicken, believe me." . , A man is never in a temper m the United States—ho has a “grouch on.” Tim exact phraseolngv would no doubt fie -I met Brown this morning. Ho is carting some grouch around with him." , . • , . , Even the dollar, which many think is regarded as sacred hy the people of the United Slates, has not escaped the word-smith, as the class who coin fresh words is called. A dollar is an iron man, a buck, a cartwheel, or a tain-ob.-on. Nothing seems free from, the long-reaching arm of the word pervcrtcr. An Englishman is a limcjnicer. because the sailors in the British Navy arc given this cordial in tropical climates. This word has been changed to limey, and lemon pelter, no doubt to keep in line with the demand for something now. because._m the United Sattes. it is not regarded as prcm'os.sivo it one i.s not bo live improvement ou Inst year's tilings. Just the same with words. “Turned down” was applied as a slang phrase. But this lias long passed out, and now “passed up” has taken its place. Even the term “man” has become too <OllllllOll for everyday use. A man is now a gink, a guy, or a guinea. It a first-class comedian were being “written up” in the United tSates, lie might fin described as one of the “funniest ginks that ever came down the pike.” His sayings may he described as "the finest line of dope (or talk) that has ever been handed out on that stage. Dope plays a big part in the language of the United States. If a boxer docs not look in the-pink of condition when he -steps into the ring, to the sporting writer he looked dopey. If a- newspaper writer is in search of copy he is looking for dope. It a man. wants to arrange matters beforehand, ho dopes it out, or if a merchant wishes no preservative in certain goods he- specifically states, “no boradc acid or dope of that kind.”

Everyone ill the United States uses slang, except tiie aforementioned highbrows, and they tin not count over there, because they are in a hopeless minoritv. These said highbrows would describe a baseball match in English, and call a base a base instead of a sack or a bag, and if a man hit a two base hit they would say so, thus outraging the traditions, which call lor a two-bagger or a harem skirt. If a man makes a speech ho gets it

out of his system. No one is .told to go away. The request is ‘‘to boat it while tin- going is good,” or “while your shoes are warm.” This may bo varied by a request to place an eg" in voiir shore, ami beat it; make a noise like a hoop, and roll away, or make a noise like a tree and leave. Small towns are referred to as jerkwater towns, because they are equivalent of a stoppingplaee for a locomotive replenishing its tank. Gaol is the pen, or the reef. Sometimes it is more familiarly referred to- so and so’s hotel, naming the clue) warder as the proprietor. Convicts are* cons, and emphasis is obtained hy (-'ee Whiz, or (lee. In this connection a little story is told of a small boy who said. “It’s rainin’ this morning.” The teacher said, •'Don’t forget your g.” He immediately corrected himself, and said, "dee; but it’s rainin’ this morning.”

Newspapers are almost, invariably referred to as sheets; ami any writer who is well-liked is regarded, as "some siinger of English.” There are no articles appearing in any of the American newspapers; they are all stone". Articles are only printed hy hush newspapers, meaning newspan-- th-' 1 are published in small conntiy tonns. With the few exceptions mentioned.

and the few hundred others that are used daily, the English language Jiao not been defiled by the A meric. :is.