Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-03-07
Parity OF Language.

If all our boy readers were before me
would like TO ask these questions How
many of you think that the use of slang in
your conversation is either smart or witty
Those who think so may raise hand. How
many of you have greater respect. for one |
who uses low and vulgar lapguage2 And |
how many think it manly to indulge in pro-
family / do not think that single hand |
would be raised to indicate an Affirmative |
answer to any of these questions.
But suppose / ask how many OF you
never make use of any such language?
Could you all raise hand in answer
to this question ? hope the most of you
could. Perhaps the reference to the use
of slang would keep few bands down.
And if ask these few why they make use
of such unnecessary words, which only de-
grades them in the eyes of all their asso-
ciates whose friendship is worth having,
could they give me any reasonable answer,
or any excuse for so doing
al never stopped to think anything about
it," is all the excuse one boy could give,
when / questioned him on this subject.
didn't stop to think" is quite common
excuse of youth and sometimes the habit
of not thinking becomes chronic, and we
carry it with us through life to our own
great disadvantage, as well rs to the annoy
ance of all around US. But remember,
boys, it pays well to stop and think on this
subject, as well as on all others OF impor-
lance. Acting without thinking is like
walking with the eyes shut Stop and
think whether the course you are pursuing
is the right one, and then you can go for
ward with your eyes open. And with your
eyes well open, and your conscience awake,
do not think you will ever he guilty oil
using either slang or vulgar and profane
language.
And now boys, | have another question
wish to ask you. While you may be guilty
of none of the faults already mentioned,
how many Of you can say that you always
use the best, purest, and most refined Ian
guage that you are master OF How many
Of you try to speak as correctly as you can
in your daily conversation with one anotherH
Look among your companions, and see if
you cannot find those who have pretty
fair knowledge of grammar, who can readily
correct almost any exercise in false syntax,
and vet who use such expressions as the
following: al done it," "he might have
went ait was me-" "there comes Tom
and Joe"" it was real good" ETC., etc.
Among the still more common errors III
the use of language are these the mispro-
nouncing of unaccented syllables, as terlu-
Bile for terrible; the omission OF letter or
short syllable, as, gon' for going and ev'ry
for every; and the running OF words to-
gether without giving to every one separ-
ate and distinct pronunciation.
know a boy who says, "Don't wanter !"
when he means don't want to !" "whajer
say ?" when he means "what did you say ?"
and "Where de go? 2" instead of Where
did he go ?" .
Sometimes you hear ficood," instead of
elf could" "willfercan," instead of 81
will if | can :" and how jer know 2" for
show do you know ?"
And have you never heard "m-m " in
stead of Eyes," and "ni-ni " instead OF
"noP"
Let me give you a short conversation
overheard, the other day, between two pu-
pills of our high school, and see if you never
heard anything similar to 1t.
"Wsrejergo lasnight ?"
"Hadder skate"
"Jerfnd th'ice hardin good p
Eyes; hard'nough."
"Jer goerlone ?"
"No; Bill'n'Joe wenter long"
"Howlate jerstay ?"
"Pastate."
al mmekuow wenyergoagin, voucher
| wantergon' shower howterskate."
"H-m, ficoodn' skate better'n you I'd
sellout'n'quit.'
"Well, we'll tryersce 'n'seefyercau."
Here they took different streets, and their
conversation ceased. These boys write their
compositions dramatically, and might use
good language, aud speak it distinctly il
they would try. But they have got into this
careless way of speaking, and make no eff
fort to get out of it. Whenever they try to
speak. correctly they have to grope their
way along slowly, and their expression seems
forced or cramped, as though it were hard
work for them to talk.
Most every one talks enough to keep
well in practice AID those who try to speak
correctly on every occasion soon find that
the practice makes it just as easy for them
to use the best Language at their command
as to use the most common.
Try it, boys, and see if you cannot make
some improvement. Keep close watch
over your conversation, and when you dis
cover any habitual error, drop it and sub
stitute the correct word, phrase or mode of
expression. You will fpd that it will sound
much better, aud be just as easily spoken.
And, as you get older and enter different
and wider circle of society, you can have
acquired for yourself command of lam
guage and correctness of expression of
which you need not be ashamed Christian
at Work.