Necessity is the mother of invention. It seems that in all national or international games, such as the sport of our American allies—baseball—or the sport of kings and emperors—war—necessity demands that a special language shall evolve. And so, around each and in the midst of each, an expressive3, though sometimes inelegant, slang has grown up, understood and employed only by the initiated4. In the case of the present war this slang is made up of a mixture of English, French, pantomime, and American or Canadian.
Some people give North America credit for a language of its own. On a visit to Paris some years ago I was passing the entrance of a theater on the Boulevard des Capucines when a grisette approached me with a "bon soir, cheri"; and proceeded to ask if I were lonely. Not desiring to be bothered, I replied shortly that I did not speak French.
"Oh, zat ees tres bien, monsieur," she replied coyly, "I spik zee A-mer-ee-can."
And many of our own brothers of the motherland do not admit that we Canadians speak the same language as they, but an accented modification5 of it, though they admire the pointedness6 of many of our expressions. I well remember the amusement caused in an English officers' mess by one of them telling the others that he had heard a Canadian say that he liked "the Englishman's accent." And with that charmingly bantering7 way that Englishmen have, he said with a smile to a couple of us Canadians present:
"Rawtha a jolly bit of side! Cawnt you see it, you priceless old things?" And at his request we all filled our glasses again; while one of the Canadians, for the sake of argument, expressed the opinion that the term accent might as truly be applied8 to the Englishman's "rawtha," as to our rather; or to the English "bawth," as to our harder-sounding and not so euphonious9, but probably equally correct pronunciation of the word, bath. Of course, he was met by good-natured smiles of tolerance10 and pity, and the reply that since we think their pronunciation shows more euphony11, why do we not pronounce as they do?
"Because if we did someone at home would probably hand us an over-ripe egg," was the answer.
The slang of the lines resembles a new system of Esperanto, since it takes in, in a cosmopolitan12 manner, all the languages of the neighborhood, as well as some whose existence may be doubted. For example, "no bon" means no good, and is a mixture of English, French, and a disgusted look.
"Na poo" (which is probably a mutilated form of the French "il n'y en a plus,"—there is no more) has a most versatile13 meaning, and is used in many different senses. Sometimes it signifies that some article of the rations14 is finished, as "the rum is na poo"—a not uncommon15 state of affairs. At other times it is used as we employ the slang phrase, "nothing doing."
For instance, one man asks another to have a drink, and he, having put himself, or having been put, on the Indian list, replies, "na poo for mine." Then there is the sense in which it is used meaning "killed." Bill Jones is killed, and somebody says, "Well, they na poo'd Bill Jones last night. Poor Bill, he wasn't such a bad old —— —— —— after all." (In the air service, when a man is killed, they often employ the expression that "so-and-so is gone east.") The above will illustrate16, but by no means exhaust, the versatility17 of "na poo," for in variety of meaning it is almost in a class by itself.
"Compree" is another sample of broken—one could not say Anglicized—French, and it is employed with the signification, "do you understand?" or, in slang-Canadian, "do you get me, Steve?" And here it may be remarked that a Tommy possessing the above three expressions, na poo, no bon, and compree, with some additions from the sign language, although he knows no other word of French, is able to do anything with the French peasant from using his cook-stove to heat a tin of pork and beans to making love to his daughter. Of course the latter effort is no doubt helped by the fact that love is much the same in all languages.
Then all the different shells and types of trench18-mortar ammunition19 have their nicknames, such as pineapples, rum jars, flying pigs, Jack20 Johnsons, fish tails, and whizz-bangs, all according to their shape, their sound, or the fuss they make when landing.
"To put on a show," is to make an attack on the enemy. "To get pipped" means to get wounded. If the wound is severe enough to cause the recipient21 to be sent to England, it is called a "Blighty," in which case, if the wound is not dangerous to life or limb, the others stand about looking enviously22 at the wounded man, and telling him he is a lucky devil. But if the wound is fatal, they say "he got his R.I.P."
The above will serve to illustrate the more common slang phrases used by the soldier and officer alike, for what Tommy does today his officers do tomorrow. There are, of course, many other slang expressions, some being more vulgar than expressive. Occasionally a group of men will impress you with the idea that they are so accustomed to slang and swearing that to call each other "a blank liar23" is a password, as Kelly expressed it to me one time. And in passing it may be said that though words which would be fighting words in western Canada are common enough, fighting among the men is exceedingly uncommon. Good nature and good fellowship are universal, and it is rare indeed that even the hottest argument leads to blows. Probably the boys have instinctively24 decided25 that blows are for your enemies, not for your friends, and that fighting enough is to be had on the other side of No Man's Land.
But slang, swearing, or general "toughness" is no proof that a man is not an excellent soldier. Out there we have found that cool courage and self-sacrifice are as common among the denizens26 of the slum or the employees of the workshop or factory as among those who spend their time following the hounds or adorning27 drawing-rooms. Education and culture may develop the virtues28, but they do not create them. By the same token poor or unhealthy surroundings may stultify29 the same virtues, but do not kill them.
I well recall a rough, uneducated, Irish-Canadian boy from Griffintown, who was in charge of a group of machine-gunners, and who was afraid of nothing on the earth, under the earth or over the earth. Fagan—that name will do as well as another—went up with his company to go over the top in an attack, but at the last moment they were ordered not to advance. A company of Oxford30 and Bucks31 just to Fagan's right were going over, and he, being disappointed at the cancellation32 of his order, pretended that he had not received it, joined the British with his section and went into the fight with them. He was such a bonnie fighter, and was so useful to the British that they were loud in their praises of the work of him and his men; for with his machine-gun he did much useful slaughter33 which he described on his return as "some beautiful pickin's."
On account of his good work and the high praise that it received from the British he was given a special leave of a couple of weeks to the white lights—or what remains34 of them—in London. As he left his little group of the men of his unit, all of whom loved him and all of whom his generous, brave heart held as brothers, instead of the usual "Good-by, boys, and good luck," he turned to them with a broad grin on his face and said:
"To hell wid yez all! May yez have to go over the top every damn noight whoile Oi'm away;" and with a wave of the hand, and amidst the laughter of his "byes," he started for the railhead.
But slangy sayings and swearing are not limited in use to the boys. A Major Garwell was somewhat noted35 for this habit, and sometimes spat36 out remarks quite thoughtlessly in company in which it were better he had not done so. On one occasion he had to interview a staid, dignified37 Major General Osborne of an English Corps38 to our left, and, differing in opinion with the latter, to the horror of the other officers present, he exclaimed vehemently39 without even knowing that he said it:
"But, damn your eyes, Osborne, that trench should run the other way."
To everyone's surprise the Major General only stared at him, seeing no doubt that it was a slip of the tongue, and not intentional40 disrespect. He also probably took into account the fact that the Major was a Canadian, from whom Englishmen hardly ever know what to expect in the line of discipline.
But a week later the English General showed that beneath a serious and dignified exterior41 he had a well-developed sense of humor. He was again discussing some engineering problem with our gallant42 Major before much the same group of officers, and turning suddenly he blurted43 out:
"But, damn your eyes, Garwell, I want this done my way." The General himself and even Garwell joined in the roar of laughter which followed. And now you have the reason that from that day to this the Canadian Major is always spoken of as "damn-your-eyes-Garwell."
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
wittily
|
|
| 机智地，机敏地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
witticism
|
|
| n.谐语，妙语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
expressive
|
|
| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
initiated
|
|
| n. 创始人 adj. 新加入的 vt. 开始，创始，启蒙，介绍加入 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
modification
|
|
| n.修改，改进，缓和，减轻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
pointedness
|
|
| n.尖角，尖锐；棱角 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
bantering
|
|
| adj.嘲弄的v.开玩笑，说笑，逗乐( banter的现在分词 )；（善意地）取笑，逗弄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
applied
|
|
| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
euphonious
|
|
| adj.好听的，悦耳的，和谐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
tolerance
|
|
| n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
euphony
|
|
| n.悦耳的语音 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
cosmopolitan
|
|
| adj.世界性的，全世界的，四海为家的，全球的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
versatile
|
|
| adj.通用的，万用的；多才多艺的，多方面的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
rations
|
|
| 定量( ration的名词复数 )； 配给量； 正常量； 合理的量 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
uncommon
|
|
| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
illustrate
|
|
| v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
versatility
|
|
| n.多才多艺，多样性，多功能 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
trench
|
|
| n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
ammunition
|
|
| n.军火，弹药 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
jack
|
|
| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
recipient
|
|
| a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
enviously
|
|
| adv.满怀嫉妒地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
liar
|
|
| n.说谎的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
instinctively
|
|
| adv.本能地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
denizens
|
|
| n.居民，住户( denizen的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
adorning
|
|
| 修饰，装饰物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
virtues
|
|
| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
stultify
|
|
| v.愚弄；使呆滞 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
Oxford
|
|
| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
bucks
|
|
| n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 )；钱；（英国十九世纪初的）花花公子；（用于某些表达方式）责任v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
cancellation
|
|
| n.删除，取消 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
slaughter
|
|
| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
noted
|
|
| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
spat
|
|
| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
dignified
|
|
| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
corps
|
|
| n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
vehemently
|
|
| adv. 热烈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
intentional
|
|
| adj.故意的，有意（识）的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
exterior
|
|
| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
blurted
|
|
| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |