Street English and Colloquialism

From banks to beauticians, from schools to supermarkets, you ears will be assailed with what seems like a dozen different tongues. Never mind where they originate, it’s what they mean that’s important if you are to assimilate into the British life. The groundswell feeling is that regional accents should not be derided but preserved and perpetuated. Gone is the belief that to get places, you have to speak properly. Several days of watching British television will soon endorse this.

‘Butter’ is pronounced with the Ts all but gone, replaced by the glottal stop - ‘ba-er’. Or if your name is ‘Peter’, don’t be miffed when someone calls you ‘Pee-er’. A favourite tag phrase among many is the quaint “Know wot oy maen?” it seems a polite poser to the recipient of such accented English and so universally known it even comes on TV advertisements. A definite plus for keeping taproot language alive.

The list is far too long to chronicle here but don’t be diffident about asking someone what he means when a word seems alien. Not that explanation will enlighten you any further, but it’s the start of better communication when you have to explain your own language peculiarities.

The dictionary definition of conversational idiom’ does little justice to this rich patois of the people. A “quid” is a pound. Small change is ‘copper’ and a ‘copper’ is a policeman or a bobby. To ‘come a cropper’ is to fall down or get into trouble, for instance if you’ve ‘nicked’ a copper or two from someone’s open handbag. To ‘nick’ is to steal and ‘nosh’ is food. You can get ‘knackered’ just thinking about it. Or exhausted if you prefer. If your car or house is “in good nick’, it needs no repair. “Wonderful, innit?” Isn’t it? Or is it not? If you prefer Shakespeare. A’prezzy’ is a present and a ‘prat’ is someone who’s plain obnoxious. Especially when he lurches at you ‘pie-eyed and legless’, too drunk to get to his knees up or to party.

When someone is “chuffed”, he is happy and pleased. When something is “naff”, it is very unstylish, almost embarrassing to be associated with. This particular word has its salty use when the situation demands. “Naff off” is a polite version of that famous four letter Anglo-Saxon word not generally used in polite company. But when asked to “sod off”, you can either take offence or not, depending on the tone of voice and who is issuing this dismissal. This is saltier than “naff off.” “Bonkers” means mad, but “bonking” is now acceptable, even on TV, though it is a word that describes the sexual act. It is now so acceptable - perhaps as a valve for verbal frustration - you could use it in front of your nan and she would not ask you to nan off.

Rudeness, it seems, is excusable as long as the rude word or term is masked over with another one usually found in the dictionaries. In fact, more and more of these words and terms are sneaking into the best of almanacs and life of the society.

Notes*

to assimilate, v. - засвоювати, уподобляти to be obnoxious - образливий, вартий осуду; противний; неприємний, огидний; докучливий, нестерпний, противний, нестерпний

to sneak, v. - підкрадатися, проникати to be diffident - бути невпевненим в.., сором’язливим to assail, v. - закидувати питаннями to be derided - висміювати, осміювати; знущатися (над чимось, кимось)

Talking points*

What’s Street English? What is Colloquial English?

Is there any difference between Standard English and Street ones?

How to avoid trouble…

Дата добавления: 2015-08-18