THE WORDS WE USE.

Cromwell Argus, Volume LXIII, Issue 3250, 13 February 1933, Page 7

THE WORDS WE USE.

Too often we are reproved for using words and expressions which are not “King’s English.” They may not be, but many of them have such a strong hold among the people that they are to have the official sanction of the Oxford English Dictionary, which is recognised as the standard English dictionary.

Not long ago we suffered from an epidemic .of “itis.” We had “holidayitis,” even “Monday morningitis.” We have to thank Mr. Asquith for giving us this, for in 1903 he spoke of having “fiscalitis,” and in 1906 of a slight attack of “suffragitis.” In the new supplement to the Oxford English Dictionary, “itis” is described as an “Irregular use of the suffix applied to a state of mind fancifully regarded as a disease.”

Another interesting word which has taken an accepted place in our language is “shock,” as applied to workers in Russia under the new system. There they have “shock-brigades,” “shock workers,” and so on. The word is modelled in the first place on the shock-troops of Germany, those forces of men, who in the great war, were chosen for attacking and special operations. The Russians took hold of the idea and their hardest workers doing special duties are the “shock-brigades.” American slang is recognised. You will find such words as “jazz,” “graft” and the expression “step on the gas.” “No flies on him,” which has also been accorded dictionary dignity, is not American but Australian. It was applied here originally to cattle so active that no flies could settle on them, and has come to mean astuteness, energy, and shrewd business dealings.