The use of colloquial words

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The use of colloquial words

The etymology of the term colloquialism can be traced to the Latin word colloqui, which in turn is derived from the words com meaning 'with' and `loqui' meaning 'conversation'.[6]

Colloquial coinages (nonce-words) are spontaneous and elusive. This proceeds from the very nature of the colloquial words as such. Not all of the colloquial nonce-words are fixed in dictionaries or even in writing and therefore most of them disappear from the language leaving no trace in it whatsoever. Unlike literary-bookish coinages, nonce-words of a colloquial nature are not usually built by means of affixes but are based on certain semantic changes in words that are almost imperceptible to the linguistic observer until the word finds its way into print. [4, 112] vernacular affix conversational semantics

The term colloquial is old enough: Dr Johnson, the great English lexicographer, used it. Yet with him it had a definitely derogatory ring. S. Johnson thought colloquial words inconsistent with good usage and, thinking it his duty to reform the English language, he advised “to clear it from colloquial barbarisms”. By the end of the 19th century with Neo-grammarians the description of colloquial speech came into its own, and linguists began to study the vocabulary that people actually use under various circumstances and not what they may be justified in using.

As employed in our time, the adjective colloquial does not necessarily mean `slangy' or `vulgar', although slang and vulgar vocabulary make part of colloquial vocabulary, or, in set-theoretical terminology, form subsets contained in the set we call colloquial vocabulary. [1, 224]

Colloquialisms are a persistent feature of the conversation of at least 90% of the population

a) Literary colloquial

The term literary colloquial is used to denote the vocabulary used by educated people in the course of ordinary conversation or when writing letters to intimate friends. The sphere of communication of literary colloquial words also includes the printed page, which shows that the term “colloquial” is somewhat inaccurate. [1,224]

Here are some examples of literary colloquial words. Pal and chum are colloquial equivalents of friend; girl, when used colloquially, denotes a woman of any age; bite and snack stand for meal; hi, hello are informal greetings, and so long a form of parting; start, go on, finish and be through are also literary colloquialisms; to have a crush on somebody is a colloquial equivalent of to be in love. A bit (of) and a lot (of) also belong to this group.

A considerable number of shortenings are found among words of this type. E.g. pram, fridge, flu, prop, zip, movie.

Verbs with post-positional adverbs are also numerous among colloquialisms: put up, put over, make up, make out, do away, turn up, turn in, etc.

b) Familiar colloquial

The younger generation of writers (M. Drabble for instance) adhere to familiar colloquial. So it seems in a way to be a differentiation of generations. Familiar colloquial is more emotional and much more free and careless than literary colloquial. This vocabulary group closely verges on slang and has sometimes of its coarse flavour. It is also characterised by a great number of jocular or ironical expressions and nonce-words. [1,224]

E.g. doc (for doctor), hi (for how do you do), ta-ta (for good- bye), goings-on (for behaviour, usually with a negative connotation), to kid smb. (for tease, banter), to pick up smb. (for make a quick and easy acquaintance), go on with you (for let me alone), shut up (for keep silent), beat it (for go away). [3, 15]

c) Low colloquial

Low colloquial is a term used for illiterate popular speech. It is defined by G. P. Krapp as uses "characteristic of the speech of persons who may be broadly described as uncultivated". [3, 15] This group is stocked with words of illiterate English which do not present much interest for our purposes. It is very difficult to find hard and fast rules that help to establish the boundary between low colloquial and dialect, because in actual communication the two are often used together. Moreover, we have only the evidence of fiction to go by, and this may be not quite accurate in speech characterisation. The basis of distinction between low colloquial and the two other types of colloquial is purely social. Everybody remembers G.B. Shaw's “Pygmalion” where the problem of speech as a mark of one's social standing and of social inequalities is one of the central issues. Ample material for observation of this layer of vocabulary is provided by the novels of Alan Sillitoe, Sid Chaplin or Stan Barstow. The chief peculiarities of low colloquial concern grammar and pronunciation; as to the vocabulary, it is different from familiar colloquial in that it contains more vulgar words, and sometimes also elements of dialect.

Other vocabulary layers below the level of standard educated speech are, besides low colloquial, the so-called slang and j argot. Unlike low colloquial, however, they have only lexical peculiarities.

Among other informal words, colloquialisms are the least exclusive: they are used by everybody, and their sphere of communication is comparatively wide. [3, 13]

Compare the different uses of the verb "get", which frequently replaces in oral colloquial speech its more specific synonyms:

/ got (= received) a letter today; Where did you get (= buy) those shoes?; We don't get (= have) much rain here in summer, I got (= caught) flu' last month; We got (= took) the six-o 'clock train from London; I got into (=entered) the house easily; Where has my pen got to (= disappeared) ?; We got (= arrived) home late; Get (=put) your hat on!; I can 't get (=fit) into my old jeans; Get (= throw) the cat out of the house.'; I'll get ( = punish) you, just you wait.'; We got (= passed) through the customs without any checking; I've got up to (= reached) the last chapter of the book; I 'II get (=fetch) the children from school; it's getting (= becoming) dark; He got (= was) robbed in the street at night; I got (= caused) him to help me with the work; I got the radio working at last( = brought it to the state of working); Will you get (= give, bring) the children their supper tonight?; I didn't get( = hear) what you said; You got (= understood) my answer wrong; I wanted to speak to the director, but only got (= managed to speak) to his secretary; Will you get (= answer) the phone?; Can you get (= tune in) to London on your radio?

There are phrases and constructions typical of colloquial type: What's up? (= What has happened); so-so (=not especially good); nothing much/nothing to write home about (= nothing of importance); How are you doing? (= How are things with you?); Sorry? Pardon? ( = Please, repeat, I didn't hear you); Not to worry! (= there is nothing to worry about); No problem! (= This can easily be done); See you (= Good-bye); Me too/neither (= So/neither do I), etc.

In grammar there may be: a) the use of shortened variants of word-forms, e.g. isn't, can't; there's ; I'd say ; he'd 've done ( = would have done); Yaa ( = Yes); b) the use of elliptical (incomplete) sentences -- / did; (Where's he?) -- At home; Like it? (= Do you/Did you like it?) -- Not too much (= I don't like it too much); (Shall I open it'?) -- Don 't.'; May I? (= May I ask a question/do this?).

The syntax of colloquial speech is also characterized by the preferable use of simple sentences or by asyndetic connection (= absence of conjunctions) between the parts of composite sentences or between separate sentences. Complex constructions with non-finite forms are rarely used. Note the neutral style in the following extract:

When I saw him there, I asked him, 'Where are you going?', but he started running away from me. I followed him. When he turned round the corner, I also turned round it after him, but then noticed that he was not there. I could not imagine where he was...

and the possible more colloquial version of the same: / saw him there, I say 'Where'ye going?' He runs off, 1 run after him. He turns the comer, me too. He isn 't there. Where's he now?/can't think.... (note also the rather frequent change from the Past tense to the Present, in addition to the absence of conjunctions or other syntactic means of connection).

Colloquial words in fiction.

Authors and playwrights often use colloquial language while writing, and therefore you may often come across instances of colloquialism in novels and plays. From the works of the Bronte sisters to the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, most famous works in literature are found to be dotted with slang terms that are associated with periods that they were written in.

When you read a novel, a play, a short story, or any other form of literature, you are bound to recognize certain literary techniques that the writer has used. While most authors introduce figures of speech deliberately as a method of enhancing their work, colloquialism is something that generally tends to creep in. Authors tend to use the language that they are most comfortable with (unless their work demands otherwise). Every writer is influenced by the place he belongs to, the way people around him speak, and the phrases that are used by them. It is in such a scenario that colloquialism is often intertwined in the language of the literary work. There are many authors who use colloquialism deliberately to imbue a sense of reality and to render their work a contemporary touch.

Purists may scoff at the idea of using everyday language in literature, but there is a sense of realism that slang and colloquial terms impart. If you trace the history of use of the vernacular and colloquial in literature, you will learn how Shakespeare used slang in his work so that it would strike a chord with not only the courtiers but also with the masses. Colloquial language served to open up the world of literature to all.

Critics argue that in modern literature though, colloquialism has often been used to exclude instead of include. This may be true in some cases where the use of language serves no purpose except to make it less accessible and understandable only to people from certain sections of the society. But there are several modern literary gems that use the vernacular to repel and attract the reader at the same time; cases in point being works like Trainspotting, A Clockwork Orange, The Catcher in The Rye, etc. All these novels use conversations between characters to convey to the reader where the character comes from and to reinforce the setting. Dialogs with colloquial phrases often have a more far-reaching effect as compared to those written in pure English that may be difficult to understand for some. These dialogs are often responsible for the depth of the novel and also for creating a connection between the reader and the characters.

All the following examples can illustrate the use of colloquial words in fiction.

Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe, 1852

"If I must be sold, or all the people on the place and everything go to rack, why, let me be sold. I s'pose I can b'ar it as well as any on 'em."

The novel is widely regarded as a seminal work in anti-slavery literature. Some critics also call it the book that laid the foundation for the Civil War. The language and tone used in the novel made it a snapshot of the times that it was set in. This was because the terms and dialogs that were used, and the stereotypes presented were all a reflection of the situation in America then. The language used by each character mirrored how actual people of different social stations spoke. This was a marked departure from the prevalent use of language in literature.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain, 1885

"I didn't want to go back no more. I had stopped cussing, because the widow didn't like it; but now I took to it again because pap hadn't no objections... But by-and-by pap got too handy with his hick'ry, and I could't stand it. I was all over with welts. He got to going away so much, too, and locking me in. Once he locked me in and was gone three days. It was dreadful lonesome."

This book is heralded as one of the first works in mainstream American literature that was written in the vernacular. It paved the path for other writers. The use of language in the novel was such that it established a sense of freedom and ease. The rhythms of talking were maintained by creating word groups and ensuring that sentences were simple and direct. The novel was responsible for breaking the mindset that literature had to be written in a flamboyant manner. It made literature more all-encompassing.

These are just some of the many examples of literary works that use colloquialism in good measure. Language is the starting point for any piece of literature and if it is not effective, then the reader is likely to take nothing from it. Using language that is grandiose may work in some cases, but it is the colloquial that forges a strong connection with your reader. (6)

Colloquialisms are words or expressions used in everyday common speech or in informal writing. Colloquial language is typically acceptable in casual, ordinary, and familiar communication as when you speak or write to a friend, colleague, or family member.

Colloquial words and expressions are not rude, but simply reflect the closeness and knowledge between the speaker or the writer and the audience.

To sum up everything which was mentioned above, we can say, that colloquial words can exist not only in the oral speech of young and semi-educated people. Colloquial words are used by people of all ages and all classes, but they are little different.

Authors and playwrights often use colloquial language while writing. Most authors introduce figures of speech deliberately as a method of enhancing their work; colloquialism is something that generally tends to creep in. Authors use colloquialism deliberately to imbue a sense of reality and to render their work a contemporary touch.

References

1. Arnold I. .V. The English Word M. High School 1986 pp.

2. Gurevich V.V. English stylistics Флинта, Наука 2007

3. Antrushina English lexicology Дрофа 1999 pp 12-

4. Galperin I.R Stylistics М.: Высшая школа, 1977 г. p 112 -115

5. Kucharenko V.A A book of practice in Stylistic

6. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/colloquialism-examples-in-literature.html

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