Use of slang in conversation and literature...
By MJay101
@MJay101 (710)
December 2, 2009 5:20pm CST
I responded to a thread earlier about confusion over the word: "geezer".
To me, use of this slang is commonplace (well, vaguely)... But what's common in your country / town / household?
I think language is intensely interesting, and I find the differences sometimes magical, sometimes hilarious... I was stunned the first time I was referred to as "duck", whilst visiting a friend in Derby. (I only just got used to my aunts and uncles using "chuck" or "pet"...)
Then I moved to Liverpool: so I'm either "boss" (no seniority implied), or "lad" (no patriarchal overtones) - whilst I used to be "mate" (no friendship implied).
What's your local twang?
3 responses
@jb78000 (15139)
•
2 Dec 09
it is fascinating - i remember working with a girl from the north of england who was a good two years younger than me (you notice this when you are 20) and kept calling me pet, which until then i'd assumed was just something older people called younger ones. i also lived in a part of scotland for a while where everybody gets called pet names (random stranger = sweetie), i would not recommend trying that in glasgow..
1 person likes this
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
2 Dec 09
Hi MJay101,
I love slang and it is always interesting to hear some from other countries. We have a lot of slang here, one that has grown in popularity is "horse" and it is a term of endearment between friends.
For example a greeting would be, "howya horse"
Our slang here has been dubbed, Dublinese
1 person likes this
@MJay101 (710)
•
2 Dec 09
Thanks for your reply!
"Howya horse" is fantastic - I'd use it myself, but I think a lot depends on the accent! It still sounds odd when I say "lad" - it works better in thick Scouse... 
It's interesting that you're just a couple hours away on the ferry, but that the slang is so different... Having said that, I could travel to Wigan and not have a clue what anyone's on about! (Pies? 
)
It's interesting that you're just a couple hours away on the ferry, but that the slang is so different... Having said that, I could travel to Wigan and not have a clue what anyone's on about! (Pies? )@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
2 Dec 09
Yeah the accent can have a big effect on slang, I have a dirty thick Dublin accent so I can pull the whole horse thing off lol.
I hope you get more responses on this one as I am very curious about slang in other countries. Have you seen the Commitments? some great Dublin slang in that.
Pies
