English slang

As part of world translation day I thought I would pop together some thoughts about translation within the same language - English.

English is one of those languages that isn't quite like any others. It's made up from borrowing bits from all the other languages that have been spoken in and around England. Each area of the United Kingdom has in the past had its own language which has contributed to now regional dialects and area specific slang. We all know the about the Cockneys but do you know about Brummies from Birmingham?

Many of the greatest writers of all time are British, and some of our most commonly used words have been ones made up by them. Torture, bet, champion, hint, elbow, birthplace, blanket – these are all words created by William Shakespeare for his literary works.

Slang is the common use of very informal words and phrases that form part of a language. The first recorded use of slang within the the English language were pamphlets issued in circa 1535. The first written record that we have it a Caveat for Common Cursetours written by Thomas Harman in 1566.

Many of the origins of slang language are with reference to genitalia or sexual acts. There are over 170 recognised slang terms in the English language just for the word penis!

Slang nowadays is seen as something that the 'youth' of today do when in fact most of us do not even realise how much slang we are using as it has changed to become just another part of our wonderfully colourful language.

We also need to be careful with our use of slang terms with those from different countries even within the English speaking community. For example in America the term fag means a homosexual in the UK it means a cigarette. There are also many terms that have similar but different meanings for example the word fanny can mean buttocks for North Americans but for the British it is an offensive term for the vagina (see I told you that sex parts were heavily involved) My favourite food confusion when I visit the USA is chips – here in England they are what french fries are to our American cousins, and what they have as chips we call crisps.

We also have fun with our cousins from down under, being crook is very ill in the southern hemisphere whereas in the northern one it is someone who steals things, usually money. A chav (council house and violent) here in the UK is white trash in America and a Bogan in Autralia. An innocent phrase in Australian – I will knock you up in the morning – meaning I will wake you up in the morning in the UK means to impregnate someone so be careful how you are waking up your British friends Ozzies.

Every language changes over time but with the spread of English and the different environments that it exists in it expands much more compared to most other languages. In 10 years time I wonder what the new slang terms will be. With the invention of social media and websites like 7 cups where we can talk to people all over the world one day the English language and all others may be gone. For a world where we all speak the same language cant do anything but help with the misunderstandings between cultures and hopefully can bring us together as a world community.

Are there any more differences or slang words you have noticed that you use or have heard?

Below are some great websites if you want to have a bit more of a look at some more of our wonderfully British slang terms

http://www.effingpot.com/slang.shtml

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/30-awesome-british-slang-terms-you-should-start-using-immediately.html

http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/slang/common-uk-expressions-slang.html

http://www.anglotopia.net/british-identity/humor/top-100-most-beautiful-british-slang-words-and-phrases/