Let’s talk about the Elephant in the room!
Author: Bill Garwood
Let’s talk about the Elephant in the room!
I always wondered what that meant, and how did an elephant get in the house? Human beings (especially Americans) use all kinds of idioms, or figures of speech. Things we say which aren’t a direct idea, kind of like a parable. Only we don’t have to speak to multitudes on a mountainside.
In each generation, groups of young folks have their patterns of speech, as a teenager (Yes, I was one once.) I used “far out”, or “cool.” NEVER “rad,” that was before my time and I wouldn’t use it anyway. I have even been known to let go a “groovy” now and again. I was hip, cool, and groovy at one time, honest. I remember “boss” coming in, and “dope” (which I have never understood), but part of growing up was having our own lingo, a separate language to keep parents in the dark. Good fun.
After high school, I entered a whole different world: the Army! Wow, that was a completely different type of language. Most was acronyms, letters that meant something to other military members. We ALL knew these (after a few weeks of being confused). I still use several, if you ever hear me say: “I’m going to just DX it” that means to get rid of something. (It stands for “to turn in as unserviceable”) But that’s no fun to say, there are so many words and acronyms, I won’t go into them here.
Unfortunately, many slang words are references to someone or are insults. Like “chowder head", or "waste of flesh" ‐ Not nice, but they usually get the point across. Our first Drill Sergeants used MANY unpleasant insults to get us to do things. Sometimes in reference to our parents, you get the idea. Motivation is the key to getting things done, or to motivate others to do something. Such as: “get your head out of your neither region and do the job correctly"! Most figures of speech involve profanity, or obscene words or phrases. I could go into volumes on this subject, but it’s a family newspaper.
Over the years, there have been thousands of phrases that were different but used by many people. Like “cat’s pajamas” or “bee's knees,” I have never understood these, but I know they’re supposed to be good.
Every occupation has its own words or language: an electrician will tell someone to “not become a conductor,” or a plumber says, “you should have been flushed!”
Why do we speak this way? Mostly because it’s FUN! Slang has come in many forms over the years; the 1950s and 60s had hundreds of expressions. The 70s, too, but not so much from then on.
I have talked with many Hispanic folks who say English is the hardest language to learn, and I can see why. We speak in riddles; we also use movie references all the time. Don’t think so? If you are going to the store, as you leave, say in a deep voice, “I’ll be back”. Everyone knows what you are saying. (Cue Arnold.)
People from England say WE do not speak English, we speak American. GOOD!
