Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-02-03
The Use and Abuse OF Slang.

The principal definition found in Web
ster's Dictionary of the word slang Is
low, vulgar, unauthorized language"
DR.. johnson merely defines it as the pre-
terit of the verb sling" which has,
perhaps, an occult, humorous suggestion
of its own. Probably in the great lexi-
cographer's time slang had not pervaded
all classes of society TO the extent that 1t
now prevails. Even then, though, II was
the language of street humor, as 1t was in
the days OF Aristophanes, Plautus or
Martial, and in the present phase OF
American society it has become recog-
nized force in argument or description.
Always pithy and amusing, it's use has
introduced words and phrases among us
which, from being great fayorites, have
become household words.
Many Of these words or phrases are
probably only serving their apprentice
Ship and will eventually become an active
strength in our language, just as many
old English words that once held most
respectable position in society have fallen
into disrepute and sunk to the uses of
slang.
Tne powerful hold that slang has taken
upon the familiar language of our daily
intercourse may be traced 10 sort of
commercial brevity-the result of mer.
camille training and quick apprehension
which produces a special slang of the fac
tory, warehouse or workshop; and even
the college and the studio have their tech
nical slang terms, the use Of which is
known AZ talking shop" The discov-
cry has also been made that the introduce
ton of slang phrase in vogue on the
stage is the surest way 10 laughter and
applause. The cant or patter OF thieves
and rogues is not to be COMPOUNDED with
these terse and grotesque additions to our
language, although 1t has arrived at the
dignity of dictionary and many learned
treatises have been written upon It's deri-
vations.
In England certain form of slang de-
rived from the barrack or the hunting
field is very popular, and in a recent En-
glish novel the expression too beastly
particular" shows its diffusion in light
literature; but in this country the language
bristles with the most formidable obsta-
cles to its requirement by any foreigner
who arrives here for that purpose.
Imagine him in some casual difficulty
hearing the threat to "bust his crust"
his dictionary would teach him to con.
slider himself sort Of human pie. AT the
tiuD nc ID tOiu tnht d ItEtdlh LutIIudHt vi
broker has gone up" and his wonder
ing mind dwells upon Enoch and celestial
translation; but what idea Is conveyed to
his imagination when he hears the sum of
mans happiness measured by the alti-
tude of his goosey
The brisk sprightliness of slang some
times aiones for its use and renders 1t
constant colloquial guest; but there are
two conditions in which 1t is unpardona-
BILE; either Its application in literature,
even In the daily news column or the
lightest magazine article, or, worse still,
by the lips OF the fair sex, who do not al.
ways stick at u tritle of the same sort to
enforce an argument or illustrate an cpl
gam, 1t is q deiormity In that inter.
course which should gid and adorn our
lives.
There is one good thing, however, that
slang has done; IL seems to have taken the
place OF worse coarseness and more OBJ
jectionable vulgarity that deformed both
conversation and literature century ago,
and the recognition nowadays Is universal
that
Immodest words admit Of no defense
For want Of decency is want Of sense
N. Y. Herald.