Post by Admin on Sept 11, 2019 21:34:18 GMT
Colloquialism Definition
In literature, colloquialisms are the use of informal words, phrases, or even slang in a piece of writing. Colloquial expressions tend to sneak in as writers, being part of a society, are influenced by the way people speak in that society. Naturally, they are bound to add colloquial expressions to their vocabulary.
However, writers use such expressions intentionally too, as it gives their works a sense of realism. For instance, in a fiction story depicting American society, a greeting “what’s up?” between friends will seem more real and appropriate than the formal “How are you?” or “How do you do?”
Colloquialism Examples in Everyday Life
Colloquial expressions vary from region to region. Below is a list of some colloquialism examples of American origin:
Bamboozle – to deceive
Bo bananas, or go nuts – go insane or be very angry
Wanna – want to
Gonna – going to
Y’all – you all
Be blue – to be sad
Buzz off – go away
Examples of Colloquialism in Literature
Example #1: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (By Mark Twain)
Mark Twain, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, used black-American vernacular to realistically show how the “negroes” [Black Americans] talked:
“I didn’t want to go back no more. I had stopped cussing, because the widow didn’t like it; but now I took to it again because pap hadn’t no objections… But by-and-by pap got too handy with his hick’ry, and I couldn’t stand it. I was all over with welts. He got to going away so much, too, and locking me in. Once he locked me in and was gone three days. It was dreadful lonesome.”
The use of double negatives is evident in the above passage, and was used as a typical characteristic of black-American vernacular.
Example #2: The Sun Rising (By John Donne)
John Donne uses colloquialisms in his poem The Sun Rising:
“Busy old fool, unruly Sun,
Why dost thou thus,
Through windows, and through curtains, call on us?
Must to thy motions lovers’ seasons run?
Saucy pedantic wretch…”
The poet addresses the sun in an informal and colloquial way, as if it were a real human being. He asks the sun in a rude manner why he had appeared and spoiled the good time he was having with his beloved. Not finishing there, he commands the “saucy pedantic sun” to go away.
Function of Colloquialisms
Colloquial expressions in a piece of literature may give us deep insights into the writer’s society. They tell us about how people really talk in their real lives. Therefore, they help a writer to form strong connections with readers. Colloquial expressions impart a sense of realism to a piece of literature, which again attracts readers as they identify it with their real life. Moreover, they add variety to the characters which makes them more interesting and memorable.
Can you think of any colloqualisms you have learnt?
Colloquialisms also include phrases, check out: www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/phrases-and-sayings-list.html and www.ef-australia.com.au/english-resources/english-idioms/.
1. Please choose a colloqualism
2. Explain how you would teach it.
Would you use props? Would there be a heavy amount of writing? What about visual aids?
In literature, colloquialisms are the use of informal words, phrases, or even slang in a piece of writing. Colloquial expressions tend to sneak in as writers, being part of a society, are influenced by the way people speak in that society. Naturally, they are bound to add colloquial expressions to their vocabulary.
However, writers use such expressions intentionally too, as it gives their works a sense of realism. For instance, in a fiction story depicting American society, a greeting “what’s up?” between friends will seem more real and appropriate than the formal “How are you?” or “How do you do?”
Colloquialism Examples in Everyday Life
Colloquial expressions vary from region to region. Below is a list of some colloquialism examples of American origin:
Bamboozle – to deceive
Bo bananas, or go nuts – go insane or be very angry
Wanna – want to
Gonna – going to
Y’all – you all
Be blue – to be sad
Buzz off – go away
Examples of Colloquialism in Literature
Example #1: Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (By Mark Twain)
Mark Twain, in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, used black-American vernacular to realistically show how the “negroes” [Black Americans] talked:
“I didn’t want to go back no more. I had stopped cussing, because the widow didn’t like it; but now I took to it again because pap hadn’t no objections… But by-and-by pap got too handy with his hick’ry, and I couldn’t stand it. I was all over with welts. He got to going away so much, too, and locking me in. Once he locked me in and was gone three days. It was dreadful lonesome.”
The use of double negatives is evident in the above passage, and was used as a typical characteristic of black-American vernacular.
Example #2: The Sun Rising (By John Donne)
John Donne uses colloquialisms in his poem The Sun Rising:
“Busy old fool, unruly Sun,
Why dost thou thus,
Through windows, and through curtains, call on us?
Must to thy motions lovers’ seasons run?
Saucy pedantic wretch…”
The poet addresses the sun in an informal and colloquial way, as if it were a real human being. He asks the sun in a rude manner why he had appeared and spoiled the good time he was having with his beloved. Not finishing there, he commands the “saucy pedantic sun” to go away.
Function of Colloquialisms
Colloquial expressions in a piece of literature may give us deep insights into the writer’s society. They tell us about how people really talk in their real lives. Therefore, they help a writer to form strong connections with readers. Colloquial expressions impart a sense of realism to a piece of literature, which again attracts readers as they identify it with their real life. Moreover, they add variety to the characters which makes them more interesting and memorable.
Can you think of any colloqualisms you have learnt?
Colloquialisms also include phrases, check out: www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/phrases-and-sayings-list.html and www.ef-australia.com.au/english-resources/english-idioms/.
1. Please choose a colloqualism
2. Explain how you would teach it.
Would you use props? Would there be a heavy amount of writing? What about visual aids?