The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-07-09
THE SLAEG FOUNDRY.
How Odd But EXprcsaivo Phrascs Are
Come
[Chicago Times.

j
The London Society of Amateur
Philologista, tho members of which
are devoted to the study of language,
has gravely decided that if it were
not for the additions made from timo
to time by Americans, English would
have to bo classed as O dead or at
least rs q rapidly dying languages.
From this country, however, come
so many apt and move! phrases which
gro incorporated in tho body Of the
English tongue that it is still live
and growing. And both in the Uni
ted States and abroad students arc
beglnning to recognize tho impor-
tance and the value of words and
phrases which start az slang and,
because they vividly describe some
prevailing condition, gradually find
their way into the standard die
tionnries.
The English society mourns be-
cause almost all the slang which is
found worthy Of permanent adoption
originates in the Estates" But it is
proud Of the fact that in England
has originated at least ono popular
phrase which has not found it's way
into this country, and which, if one
may venture an opinion, is never
likely to do go. Tho new English
phrase is twenty cent" and it is
used to describe anything which is
extremely "up,to date" 1t is, of
course, an Authorization of twentieth
century, and in the English oyo is a
remarkable example Of condensation
and wit.
But tho philologists Of London and
American authorities agree in the
opinion that comparatively little
slang Of tho sort which endures and
becomes part Of the language origi.
mates in large cities. Nor is it used
first by educated and refined people,
| The SO called "oducatod classes" add
little to a language except some
stiltod words which arc borrowed
from the classics, or scientific terms
which are also likely to be derived
from ono of the dead languages. II
is the mon on the farm, on Westo. r
ranches, in gold and silver mines
and in other similar occupations who
glvo the language its vitality an6
growth.
| Thus tho mon who pack mulet
aud horses for the trail ovor tho
mountains and plains of tho groa
West put a tight "cinch' on many {
"crittor" before tho general public
began to talk familiarly of "gettine
n cinch" on any proposition in which
it was Interested. The unborn or
in the groat woods Of Wisconsin an6
the Northwest piled up many mill
ions Of logs in booms anG
watched the logs 60 tearing dowr
the swift littlo rivers after the "boon
was busted' for many years before
tho stock brokers and real estate
agents adopted their phraseology
Now there aro fow people indeed
who do not know what "boom" j.
and what is likely to happen when {
"boom is busted"
Speaking broadly, there are two
kinds of slang. Ono depends fol
it's popularity on the moro fact thai
tho phrase 9 mouth. filling anG
pleases the opular fancy. Suct
slang is likely to have only tempo
rary popularity. The slang which
lives and which sooner or later be-
comes permanent part of the lang.
uage is that which really means
something, which describes some ACT
or condition in a new and vivid way.
There are many people who are
greatly impressed by the sound OF
any phrase, the meaning of which
they do not understand. It was this
feeling which proved 80 effective