The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-10-25
EXPRESSIVE LANGUAGE.
Picturesque and Obsolete Words, aud the
Value of Dialect


1t mas frequently been remarked that what
language gains in polish 1t loses in force.
Rude dialects often possess vigor Of ex-
preston that is lacking in more civilized
tongues. Some languages, like Russian aud
Gaelic, are peculiarly rich in expressions of
loveand hate; in caressing terms of affection.
or in emphatic expression Of dislike and III
viii. Eastern Languages are rich in variety
and hyperbole, especially in curses; the
evils an angry Oriental will invoke on the
head of an enemy exceed the most fertile
invention of Billingsgate fish seller or irate
coster. There is an ingenuity and eompre-
hensiyeness about them which duh West
ern brain does not suggest Quaint proyin-
cialisms yet lnger in rural districts. and in
many instances the new modes of expression
which have taken their place, if more elegant
are far less forcible. Disraeli has made a
list of some now obsolete words, and con-
trasts the expressiveness of the ancient
scattering as compared to the modern
yagabond,n the old deathsman against
the modern executioner.n What a volume
Of history is contained in the old term OF
heretics, souLmurderers. As modern
writer has remarked, the expression denotes
so exactly the spirit in which good and
worthy men looked upon their theological
opponents and in one word gives the KEY to
the prosecuting spirit of the age. Many
picturesque words have now passed out of
date modern poet would not write of
The "pittering of the grasshopper as did
Herrlck and yet what word would better
express the insects peculiar cry? We no
longer speak of envy dusking" the lustre
of mans fame Often, however, in remote
country places we find expressions familiar
10 us through works of centuries ago still in
common use. Pure Chaucerisms flourish
still on rural lips Naughty" is yet used
IN some districts in its ancient sense of worth.
less, rather than wicked, naughty trees"
Nc. Many counties have certain peculiar
expressions. Sussex peasants talk of being
leer, an untranslatable term implying not
1ctual hunger, but the sensation that accom-
panies an undue postponement of dinner.
Poor people in Devon will speak of a
tweasey bit of meat +" or "tweasy dog
to denote the smallness or insignificanee of
ihe article named. The "Northern farmer "
Doth +" old and new styles" presents many
examples of quaint local expressions. ANY
person familiar with rural districts might
collect some odd phrases from the lps of
the country folk "You a scholard." we
once heard Sussex lad say to a school fell
low; why you're ignorant as dirt and
| lgnoranter. Why shonld dirt be taken as a
type of lack of knowledge2 Still quainter
was the benedietion of an old Irishwoman,
who, receiving a larger aims than she had
expected, wished that livery hair of youi
head may be acandletolight ye to glory.o "a
happy death is favorite good wish among
some of the lower orders of Irish; we have
it placed first amid congratulations to
a bride. Poets and noYelsts have not over
looked the expressiveness of dialects, aud
have aSAiiea thepSeei~e.. nc tt.-ix 5-1earsas-
their eopiousness. Translate into orthodox
English works like Barnes "Poem in the
Dorset Dialect" alter all the Scotch ia the
Waverley novels; change Mrs. Poyser's racy
provinciallsms into every day language and
half the charm of the books would be gone.
Dean Ramsay comments on the musical ex-
pressiveness of the words employed by a
Scotch minister who prayed for wind -
"Na a rautin, tantin', tearin' wind, but a
laughin', soughin, BLOWN Wind The
words carry q description in their very sound
The fame of poet often rests ms much on
the music of his verses as on the ideas con-
veyed in them. 1T was a grand discourse,
II rolled along like the waves of the sea-"
was poor mans criticism on sermon, the
matter of which was far above his compre-
henson. Every one knows how good
story may suffer at the hands Of an uuskill-
full narrator, who contriyes to omit all tho
best points, drags out the dialogue. and gen
orally makes the tale tedious In the same
manner skillful choice of words will embell-
ish even poor subject, and nm author may
be read more for his style than for his INIT
ter. london Globe