CHANGING SPEECH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 11, 14 January 1943, Page 4

CHANGING SPEECH

; AMERICAN INFLUENCE L PUNGENT AND COLOURFUL ; (By ARTHUR O'HALLORAN) ■ The daily contact with our Ameri--1 can friends is having its inevitable effect on our New Zealand speech, accelerating an influence which, however one may view it, was inevitable and predestined from the birth of the "talkies." English purists, the "Die Hards" of Conservatism, once addressed fiery letters to an editor on discovering an American idiom in a leading article. In the main, however, the public long ago realised, with some satisfaction, that the "American" language had come to stay. Not so general has been the realisation how greatly, or for how long, American idioms have influenced and given colour to our every-day English, written and spoken. Audacity and Novelty One of the earliest, and certainly one of the rudest, critics appears to have been Dr. Johnson, apparently oblivious to the fact that the mighty Shakespeare himself had a goodly measure of audacity and novelty, two characteristics of American writing. Jefferson coined the verb "to belittle" and the doctor, writing in the London Review in 1787. gave it the following reception: "What an expression! It may be an elegant word in Virginia, but all we can do is to guess at its meaning. For shame, Mr. Jefferson! Freely we forgive your attacks on our national character, but for the future spare, we beseech thee, our mother tongue." Jefferson replied for the "barbarians" in telling, dignified language, He said they would continue to adopt themselves to new circumstances. He prophesied that in time the new character of their language might separate it in name, as well as in power, from the mother tongue, a prophecy at least in part fulfilled to-day. Certainly the "barbarians" have conquered, and masters of Ehglish, such as Kipling and Somerset Maugham, have not been above paying their homage. "Direct and Vigorous" A learned university professor, an authority on philology, says that in his opinion American English "makes the mistake of saying everything and leaving nothing to the imagination," but admits that it is "direct, concrete and vigorous, and abounds in picturesque metaphor." How picturesque it is ask any schoolboy. Nana, Mark Twain, Bret Harte, Washington Irving, as well as the modern Americans, have coined metaphors, and arresting idioms with something approaching a national genius. Presidents, Hoboes and the Bowery have added their quota. To-day, we speak of "knowing the ropes," of having a "square meal" -or of attending a "mass meeting," say that so and so are "gangsters" or "go-getters," that we have "put up a shingle" outside our surgery, office or studio. In America an aspirant for political honours "runs for Congress." Here he "stands" for Parliament. Perhaps neither country has selected the best word. As he solicits votes with all the guile and fervour of the politician, how would "solicit" do? Genius For Coining Words The trouble is, so far as America is concerned, "solicitors and pedlars not allowed" is the equivalent to our "No Hawkers" sign displayed : in the vestibule of city buildings. Instead of taking their place "in the queue" Americans go to the end of "the line," and are apt to refer . to public conveniences as "comfort rooms." If we prefer our own nom- : enclature, it must be conceded that ; on realistic concepts American is often the winner. The whole subject is intriguing, indeed fascinating. The point is, 1 that with so many American friends among us -to-day, whilst shunning 1 anything in the nature of mere : imitation, we should be alive to the pungency, wit, and colour of their genius for coining words to lit the ; flying moment. •