tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post5201827880194365471..comments2024-03-29T03:30:18.368-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Memories of SlangDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-54998573941135330062012-08-21T07:57:45.463-06:002012-08-21T07:57:45.463-06:00I've enjoyed the comments as much as the post....I've enjoyed the comments as much as the post. What fun to visit all these old slang words and expressions. <br /><br />Dani, interesting point about the leaf blower. As I was writing my historical mystery, I found I had to check to make sure when electric coffee pots were first in use, as well as a couple of other things that I thought of having my protagonist use. With the access to the Internet, I was able to do a quick check. I just typed in the search field, "When were electric coffee pots invented?" and I got lots of sites with the information. Only took about five minutes to research. <br /><br />I'm always amazed and thankful when I can do that. I remember in the past when facing a question like that having to go to the library, or call a reference librarian. What a time-saver the Internet is. Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-459477841408925062012-08-20T21:47:14.222-06:002012-08-20T21:47:14.222-06:00Groovy!! What fun. I love this.Groovy!! What fun. I love this.Heidiwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02593338979995203659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-60982441998900255632012-08-20T13:54:34.740-06:002012-08-20T13:54:34.740-06:00And did any Englishman ever offer to knock you up ...And did any Englishman ever offer to knock you up in the morning? Hahaha. Kim, we need to add your promo to the blog post!<br />Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-76445685345215680422012-08-20T13:41:08.511-06:002012-08-20T13:41:08.511-06:00Oo! Don't forget "keen" and "bo...Oo! Don't forget "keen" and "boss"! I remember all of these except for "decorate your shoes". I have a whole book of British slang; I'll never mention putting things in a fanny pack again. <br /><br />*snicker*silferthttp://stitchtunes.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-88093116131914469232012-08-20T13:17:47.829-06:002012-08-20T13:17:47.829-06:00My great-grandmother used to call a car a machine....My great-grandmother used to call a car a machine. It was a long time before my grandfather's generation stopped calling a refrigerator an ice-box. My husband still calls an answering machine "the answering service". And me? I'm outasite, man! All the way in the ozone! Groovy -- Life without slang would be a stone drag!<br /><br />Marian Allen<br /><a href="http://MarianAllen.com" rel="nofollow">Fantasies, mysteries, comedies, recipes</a>Marian Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15842321321484056422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-85620792416907170022012-08-20T12:59:51.672-06:002012-08-20T12:59:51.672-06:00It's funny how slang changes. Watch a Jackie G...It's funny how slang changes. Watch a Jackie Gleason show and you'll hear plenty of what was popular at that time.<br /><br />Morgan Mandel<br />http://morganmandel.blogspot.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-10991124279908539242012-08-20T11:38:01.173-06:002012-08-20T11:38:01.173-06:00Interesting comments, too! I edited a book taking ...Interesting comments, too! I edited a book taking place in the 1850s where the author used the term "upscale neighborhood". I suggested he change it to something like "trendy". LOL! No, I didn't! I think I suggested "affluent" or "upper class" or something like that.Jodie Renner Editinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00830598595438997605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-70405804470821399992012-08-20T11:27:49.697-06:002012-08-20T11:27:49.697-06:00Slang is an age-betrayer. Just the other day I hea...Slang is an age-betrayer. Just the other day I heard "Right on!" come out of my mouth. Oh well. <br /><br />If you want more historical slang, here's a shameless promotion. My book "Making History: how to remember, record, interpret and share the events of your life" (available on Amazon) includes extensive lists of slang words from the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s.<br /><br />I love your ponderings, Dani. Now I must go find out the history of leaf blowers.Kim Pearsonhttp://www.primary-sources.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-35082693491262659062012-08-20T10:54:24.937-06:002012-08-20T10:54:24.937-06:00That reminds me of a funny story. Years ago, I hos...That reminds me of a funny story. Years ago, I hosted a German exchange student, and like most young people, he wanted very much to be cool and fit in. So he tried using American slang when he spoke English. Remember the expression "get down"? Well that was his fave, except he kept saying "go down". Which generated more than a few raised eyebrows and giggles from the Americans around him. I wonder if anyone ever clued him in. Not me! :DDanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-75457747487490926642012-08-20T10:25:13.113-06:002012-08-20T10:25:13.113-06:00I appreciate your era-specific commentary on the d...I appreciate your era-specific commentary on the development of slang, Kim. Makes you wonder why things considered praise-worthy these days are now "bad" and "sick," and why an answer to "What's up with that?" can be "I'm down with that." Perhaps our increased reliance on technology has thrown our perception of the natural order of things topsy-turvy?Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-28902676988741313432012-08-20T09:49:04.630-06:002012-08-20T09:49:04.630-06:00I'm glad I don't write contemporary, but I...I'm glad I don't write contemporary, but I try to be careful about slang sneaking into medieval fantasy. Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-10976794889137203572012-08-20T09:47:35.990-06:002012-08-20T09:47:35.990-06:00Since I love to edit historical novels as well as ...Since I love to edit historical novels as well as mysteries, researching the vernacular of a period becomes crucial to the authentic voice in the writing. The toughest ones are books taking place in my lifetime. I find myself researching word etymology non-stop when reading a Sue Grafton novel, for example. These take place in the eighties, and though Grafton doesn't infuse a lot of slang into her writing, there are other words to watch out for. For example, would the protagonist's neighbor have hired a lawn service that used leaf blowers? When did leaf blowers actually come into popular use? Weird stuff like that. Anyway, groovy post, man! It gives me nifty ideas for my monthly Hearing Voices gig. :DDanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-3113808505697633582012-08-20T08:07:26.337-06:002012-08-20T08:07:26.337-06:00Fascinating post, Kim! I'm going to send my fi...Fascinating post, Kim! I'm going to send my fiction-writing clients over here, as these slang words will be useful not only in writing historical fiction, but in the dialogue of older people who still use some of those words (I catch myself still using "far out" from the sixties!), or for flashbacks to when the character was younger. Great stuff!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-54625461237511419812012-08-20T07:00:48.763-06:002012-08-20T07:00:48.763-06:00I, too, love words and the unique pictures they pa...I, too, love words and the unique pictures they paint in our minds. A walk through he annals of slang define the colorful evolution of language and confer fascination on what many consider a dull topic. (Do I have to admit that I remember ALL these terms? Uh…maybe not.)<br /><br />Great post, Kim.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-2880510255011003722012-08-20T05:17:24.265-06:002012-08-20T05:17:24.265-06:00That's a great exercise. Your post reminded me...That's a great exercise. Your post reminded me that my grandmother used to call the cinema a "bioscope".Elle Carter Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.com