ORIGIN OF JOURNALESE.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1696, 31 August 1904, Page 46 (Supplement)

ORIGIN OF JOURNALESE.

It has never been proved (pleads “Land and Whiter”) that what is known as “journalese” actually originated among the journalists. By journalese -s meant the habit which makes people write “caudal appendage” for “tail,” the “deceased nobleman” for the “dead nobleman,” “the succulent bivalve” for “oyster,” “gilded chamber” for “the House of Lords,” and the like. Of course, there is a good deal of this kind of writing in local newspapers; with, well, a certain amount in newspapers that are not local. But did the writers originate it, or do they merely use a language—for it is a language of its own; there is no doubt about this- - which is in vogue among other folk? An instance was noted lately of “an eminent lexicographer” (this itself is a fairish specimen) who would saddle writoffence of misusing the word “transpire”—when the word is misused by

GREAT BRITAIN v. NEW ZEALAND, at Wellington.

Cowper himself. And what about the special department of journalese, cricket? Here are most of the captains, or chief players, of the great cricket clubs wiring off to the “Daily Mail,” day after day, reports full of the very expressions which have been gibbeted as journalese. The “bat” is the “willow,” the ‘howler” is the “trundler,” the sun is “old Sol,” “good hits” are “useful knocks,” “good luck” is “a slice of good luck,” and—rather horrible to say—you “negotiate” a catch. The truth seems to be that what is described as journalese is in use and demand among many people who have nothing in the world to do with either literature or journalism. It is seen in many departments in life. Sometimes it is held to be downright irreverent not to pile on journalese. You must not write “the King,” some people think—though what could be finer and simpler and more reverent?—you must always have at the tip of your tongue “Majesty,”