The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1919-09-12
American
In England

phrases ~alCulate to haraSs the tho
roughly British mind" Yet a writer
in the London Daily Mail finds it
mot without some charm of its own
The harassment is not a calculated
infliction, but the slang is something
that the British public has demanded
without revision or translation along
with the films that they accompany.
Speaking of American slang in gen
eral, the Daily Mail writer, looking
it as "a peculiar national product,
thinks English slang is a weak and
somewhat vulgar thing compared with
it." The American product, he main
tains, is "a work of imagination
usually picturesque, and always to
the point" For Britishers to ignore
it e now to be of the ques-
ton:
These slang phrases have come
over in the 'subtitles' OF films in great
abundance, and, strange to say, have
gained a measure of popularity with
the average British cinemagoer, of
whom the language expert has a
scantly knowledge. Quite recently a
typically American film had its in
]terspersed phrases turned into eN-
cellent English with dire results in
the comments of critical audiences.
Cinema-theater proprietors informed
the firm issuing the film of this fact,
with the result that the American
'subtitles' in their next film were re-
tanned with much success.
THE atmosphere of some films is
so nationally American that the trans
lation' into pure English OF the
phrases contained in them renders
them futile and is quite out of the
picture On the screen it is impossi-
BILE to make an obvious American
speak cockney; the whole production
of the film would have to be changed.
The Joy of our own language is its
flexibility. 1t adapts words and IN
corporates them from every possible
source. If the British public find a
word expressive they use it, and, al
tho the purists cry aloud in their rage
they eventually are forced to legallze
it in the newest dictionary. English
never was rigid, and there are some
who think it is receiving added v1tall-
ty from American slang through the
medium of the films.
"Of course, overdoses of
and there have been many OF them
are bad for tho nerves, but an over
dose OF pure English, which is apt
TO become stilted, is not especially
pleasant. AS men Of a tolerant ma
ton, let the purisls tolerate TINS
latest development; for it is already
gaining ground in the speech OF a
large number of their countrymen.'
Hampson in today Iondon) to eX-
plain words and expressions common
with us to English readers:
across the Atlantic all boots are
known as shoes, except high boots
reaching 10 the thigh; low shoes are
known as oXfords, and bowler mats
are known as derbys. Many words
and expressions survive from the
early Victorian period. Among these
are 'parlor' for drawing-room, and
Prince Albert the universal term Tor
the frock coat. The word company
is ALWAYS used to mean visitors. Har-
ness-reins are known as lines. There
is no such expression as mate IN
the States; it is always partner The
'guynor' becomes the boss, or in
offices the chief or, if he is well
liked. the old man. The head of a
family is plain father or dad some
times, by the irreverent, the old
man. All women, no matter what
their age, are the girls 1t is curl
ous to hear a sedatc American burst
into song like a schoolgirl and say,
Well, | must skip along now when
he must be going on his way. AL
shops are Stores even in the small
est hamlet, but all women go shop.
ping. There are shops, of course, in
the big cities, but they are of the
'classy'-that is, tony or exclusive
kind. Heightened means fastidious
.'highbrow' means a person of pro
fessorial turn of mind, lofty intellect
nit (Anglice: l should say not
"a would-be who won't come down t
earth Seriously, hrghbrow' does
mean intellectual.
1T is hard to talk Of pronunciation
because in England people are all a
skies and scvens themselves. Real!
in America it is not as bad as owe.
here. The adoption of American slang
words or expressions in England doe
not usually mean the adoption also o