Smyrna times., 1897-12-15
MORTALITY OF SLANG
WORDS AND PHRASES THAT RUN
WILD AND ARE SHORT LIVED.

The Use of Slang as a Habit Compared
of Intoxicants-The Harm That Results
From the NOnsensical Custom.
The Italian method of prefxing an
to a word to give it damaging signif-
cance can be employed with good effect
in christening that wayward and de-
generate offspring of English known as
slang. In its present state slanguage
has attained to such a luxurious COM
pleteness that it warrants serious treat
ment. So cOpiOus and comprehensive
has 1t become that there is hardly a hu-
man want feeling or emotion of the
heart that cannot be translated into the
vernacular of the boOtblack. In study
ing the philosophy of slang the first
natural query is, How and why did it
originate? To the first question one
might give, with certain notifications,
the same answer that would be given to
the question, Why do people swear?
The human animal, like a locomotive,
seems to require escape valves for occa-
slOns when there is too much steam III
the boiler When man is overhOwing
with admiration, anger or wonder, the
ordinary adjectives do not (Or he thinks
they do nO0 meet the emergency. They
do not relieve his pent up fullness any
more than a sip from dewdrop would
quenCh man thirst The natural man
and the natural woman sometimes find
relief under strong emotion in explosive
utterances. In the case of anger the es-
cape valve expletive is an oath unless
the man i'll question happens to be
gentleman and sometimes, though very
rarely, when he is
1t will thus be seen that slang, being
OF emotional ancestry, is first cousin
to the oath, and both are used by those
who mentally resemble the man whose
use Of Intoxicating drinks has made him
forget or underestimate the attractions
Of pure water. Slang, in sooth, is a
whisky distillatiOn Of language. 1t is
so strong that it may be taken only very
rarely with impunity, and herein lies
the chief danger i'll its use Not only
does the slanguist find ordinary English
tame, but he ends in not being able to
find any English at all
Another fatal characteristic Of slang
is the very one which at first secures its
adoption-namely, its pungency. The
same law that makes quiet colors and
shades wear well i'll the world of fabrics
has its counterpart in the world of
speech. We tire very speedily Of a start
ling costume, in high colors, and lust
as speedily do we tire Of slang, which
is startling, high colored speech.
Still another reason why slang can
never gain a permanent fOothold i'll the
language is its utter lack Of dignity
No subject can be seriously treated in
slanguage. Its sole function is to tickle
by its patness or its grotesqueness. 1t
reflects a fugitive iridescence upon cur
rent wit and humor, as like the bub-
bic catches prismastic cOlOrs but, like
the bubble, it vanishes even while you
behold it. Naturally there are slang
phrases of all degrees Of goodness and
badness, ranging from the word which
is only a slight remove from forcible
but perfectly decorous adjective to
slang of the most daring, deep dyed or
der. At one end of the scale, for in
stance, one might place fetching and
at the other end its superlative rum. -
Again, the injunction "play ball'' is
gentle and seemly, in comparison with
the brusque command "get move on. "
Along certain lines the sIanguist seems
to revel IN extravagant synonyms and
antonyms, especially i'll those express
ing some infirnity in the upper story.
The man who has "wheels' is also
popularity known as ''nutty, s" cracked"
or off his trolley" Again, if he comes
from the country, he is "corn raised"
has "seed in his hair, " or his "face
doesn't fit him." Gall" 3" NERVE" ="
"cheek, "sand, " "brass" and face"
are also nearly Synonymous terms for
qualities whose universally has made
them target for popular satire. Equally
prolific is the slanguist in coming
terms for money. Dust" "tin. "
sand " "rocks, " "chink' and "spon-
dulicks" are only few of the words
that translate Filthy lucer"
Two of the slang phrases now in
gallingly frequent use are, That's
right, and "That won't cut much
ice. The latter, it must be confessed,
has certain cool fgurative qualities
which give it a saving color of grace.
But most of these phrases rely chiefly
upon their condensed expressiveness,
which is the trademark of their Amer
lean manufacture. They are but one of
the many devices of the masses to COM
pass a crosscut and avoid circumlocu-
tions. Thus "snap" and "cinch" are
time economy for a moneyed sinecure
and an assured competence.
One of the surest tests of the rapid
mortality of slang is the extremely pain
ful sensation produced by hearing anti
| quated slang phrases used-and there
are always people who are two or
three or ten years behind in their use
of such phrases. When other people are
saying "Not ON your tintype," the
user of mildewed slang feebly ejac-
ulates Il should smile. " The piquancy
and patness of certain phrases make it
hard to declare that slang has no legiti-
mate use. But concerning its misuse,
there can hardly be two opinions among
people whose opinions are worth any
thing. A careful study of the qualities
OF men and women who habitually in
terlard their remarks with slang will
furnish anybody with a world of con-
vincing conclusions in favor of pure
English.
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