ADDITIONS TO THE LANGUAGE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1511, 14 February 1901, Page 47

ADDITIONS TO THE LANGUAGE.

The English language is growing at a rather alarming pace (says “Literature”), xi littlo batch of new terms has come over from South Africa, and the discriminating process is sifting them for common use. Many words have become familiar to all which were before known only to the few. Natural features of the land are already overloaded with synonyms, as any one will agr6© who thinks of a “copse” or a “beck.’' “Spruit” and “kopje” may pass into occasional use as synonyms. We have no true veldt in England, and the word is hardly likely to forego its original signification. Synonyms, unless they express a shade of meaning hitherto difficult of expression, are unlikely to take firm root in the language. The older synonyms, as beck, brooks, etc., have come down from the days when there was no free communication between county and county. “Commandeer’’ belongs to a class of words which take their place by right of convenience; we have no word at hand which gives just the same idea- The life of “slim” depends on the question whether it is differentiated —to signify, that is, the particular sort of wiliness characteristic of the Boer —or not. At present it hovers upon the borders of slang—hut then, the slang of to-day is apt to become the classic phrase of to-morrow. To trek has always had a limited vogue, and it does not seem to be increasing it. The pom-pom—a soldier’s onomatopoeic name for the quick-firing Vickers-Max-im gun—will last, no doubt, as long as the weapon it so adequately described; it very soon gained the honour of being mentioned in despatches. So, too, did the “Long Tom,” but that was merely the fancy of a moment.,. We do not hear much of “Long Toms” nowadays. Indirectly the Boer war may claim t-o the paternity of the verb to “maffick,” though unless some poet chances to want, a rhyme to “traffic,” we doubt whether it will pass into English literature. There is something about its appearance, to say nothing of its etymology, which prevents us taking it seriously.