The importance of colloquial expressions

Аннотация

This article aims to investigate what exactly Colloquial Expressions are and their significance in English grammar. The paper shed light on the definition origin and its characteristics. Key words: colloquialism, phrases, formal language, informal language, colloquial language. Some people say “soccer,” others say “football.” They are talking about the same sport, but what they call it is a matter of colloquialism. Colloquialism is everyday language used by people of a certain region. In the UK, you might leave your “flat” to go to the “football” game, while in the US, you would leave your “apartment” to go to the “soccer” game. Colloquial language is casual and conversational. In fact, the word colloquial comes from the Latin word colloquium, meaning “speaking together” or “conversation”. Using colloquial language makes writing less formal and more approachable—less “presenting to the class,” more “chatting in the hall.” It can also be used as a literary device to make character dialogue sound more authentic. Let’s quickly talk about the difference between colloquial and colloquialism, since you will see both words used to describe the same informal language. First, learn how to pronounce colloquial [kuh-LOH-kwee-uhl] and colloquialism [kuh-LOH-kwee-uh-liz-um]. The Merriam- Webster definition of colloquial is: “used in or characteristic of familiar and informal conversation.” The definition of colloquialism is: “a colloquial expression.” In other words, colloquial is an adjective; colloquialism is a noun. A character’s dialogue sounds colloquial, but a character uses colloquialism to describe where they are from. We can use colloquial language in daily basis, for example, when we are conversation with family, friends and neighbors. It is the phrases in your journal and in texts to your friends. 62 Basically, it is the language that you use when you are not thinking about what language to used. Everyday colloquial language is the opposite of formal language. Formal language has evolved slowly and is recognizable anywhere in the world that uses the language. On the contrary, colloquial language is region-dependent and develops relatively quickly. If formal and colloquial are opposite ends of the language spectrum, plain language (or neutral language) is in the center. See the following examples that use different modes of language to express the same meaning: Formal language: It pleases me. Colloquial language (from the New England region of the US): It’s wicked good. For it to be colloquialism, it must be informal and specific to a region or country. That is why knowing the colloquialisms of a region can help you write more believable dialogue between characters. Colloquialisms as a literary device help create setting and provide authenticity of voice. Sometimes people are confused about whether colloquialisms are the same thing as slang or jargon. The short answer is: No, they are different things. Slang is a linguistically innovative way of speaking it’s fresh. Similar to colloquialisms, slang does not have to be taken literally. However, slang trends toward being more playful than colloquialisms. The most distinguishing characteristic of slang is who uses it. Slang is used within a certain demographic, which may be bound by age, race, or culture. Colloquialisms are used within a certain region, regardless of age, race, or culture. Another related term is jargon. Jargon is common language within an occupation, industry, or activity. Phrases like “leverage,” “level set,” and “circle back” are common in business jargon. If you understand what it means to “take one for the team,” then you are at the intersection of business and sports jargon. Anyone who’s worked in a restaurant knows the difference between “BOH” and “FOH” and instinctively spins around when they hear “order up!” All of these phrases are specific to that industry and would therefore be considered jargon—not colloquialisms. Slang can make your writing more casual, and jargon can make it more specific to a group. To determine whether your writing is full of slang, jargon, or colloquialisms, figure out who uses the words. Would your teenage cousin use it but not your grandmother? It is probably slang. Would your coworker understand but not your little sister? It is probably jargon. Does everyone around you, geographically, understand it? Then you are writing colloquially. Colloquialisms across English dialects American English, Australian English, British English, Canadian English: It is all English. But just because two countries speak the same language does not mean that their words mean the same things. Every English-speaking country has its own English colloquialisms. For example, a “boot” in British English can mean the trunk of a car, whereas in American English it solely means a type of shoe (did you catch that pun?). “Chips” in Australia are “fries” in America. And Americans can thank The Great British Baking Show for broadening our unde