Edited Colloquialism

Colloquialism
Colloquialism
A colloquialism is a word, phrase, or paralanguage associated with a word or phrase that is common in informal,
conversational speech or writing but uncommon in formal speech or academic writing.[1] Dictionaries often display
colloquial words and phrases with the abbreviation colloq. as an identifier. Colloquialisms are sometimes referred to
collectively as "colloquial language".[2]
Examples
Informal colloquialisms include words (such as y'all, gonna, and wanna), phrases (such as old as the hills, raining
cats and dogs, and dead as a doornail), and aphorisms (such as There's more than one way to skin a cat).
Generally, colloquialisms are specific to a geographical region, though they are spread through normal conversation
and, increasingly, through informal online interaction. An example of the regional specificity of colloquialisms is the
term used when referring to soft drinks. In the Upper Midwestern United States and Canada, soft drinks are
collectively called "pop", while in other areas, notably the Northeastern and extreme Western United States, they are
referred to as "soda". In New England soft drinks are occasionally called "tonic". In some areas of Scotland they are
referred to as "ginger" (confusion over whether this term refers to all soft drinks or just ginger beer arose in
Donoghue v Stevenson. For more examples of regional colloquialisms for soft drinks, see Names for soft drinks.
Another example of the regional specificity of colloquialisms is the two different terms used for rectangular maple
doughnuts. These confections are called "Long Johns" in most of the United States. However, in the Pacific
Northwest (such as Oregon and Washington), they are referred to as "Maple bars".
Words that have a formal meaning can also have a colloquial meaning. "Kid" can mean "young goat" in formal
usage and "child" in colloquial usage.
Auxiliary languages are sometimes assumed to lack colloquialisms, but this varies from one language to another. In
Interlingua, the same standards of eligibility apply to colloquialisms as to other terms. Thus, any widely-used,
international colloquialism may be used in Interlingua. Expressions such as en las manos de... (in the hands of...),
and Que pasa? (What's going on?) are common.
An interesting example of a colloquialism and how it migrates to other areas is the Indian phrase Please do the
needful, meaning "Please do what is implied and/or expected". As the global workplace expands, this once regional
phrase is now being used outside the area in which it originated.
Distinction between colloquialism and slang

Some linguists make a distinction between colloquialisms and slangisms (slang words). According to linguist Ghil'ad
Zuckermann, "slang refers to informal (and often transient) lexical items used by a specific social group, for instance
teenagers, soldiers, prisoners, or surfers. Slang is not considered the same as colloquial (speech), which is informal,
relaxed speech used on occasion by any speaker; this might include contractions such as youre, as well as
colloquialisms. A colloquialism is a lexical item used in informal speech; whilst the broadest sense of the term
colloquialism might include slangism, its narrow sense does not. Slangisms are often used in colloquial speech but
not all colloquialisms are slangisms. One method of distinguishing between a slangism and a colloquialism is to ask
whether most native speakers know the word (and use it); if they do, it is a colloquialism. However, the problem is
that this is not a discrete, quantized system but a continuum. Although the majority of slangisms are ephemeral and
often supplanted by new ones, some gain non-slang colloquial status (e.g. English silly cf. German selig blessed,
Middle High German slde bliss, luck, and Zelda, a Middle Eastern female first name) and even formal status (e.g.
English mob)."[3]
Colloquialism
Distinction between colloquialism and jargon

Jargon is terminology which is especially defined in relationship to a specific activity, profession, or group. The term
refers to the language used by people who work in a particular area or who have a common interest. Much like slang,
it can develop as a kind of short-hand, to express ideas that are frequently discussed between members of a group,
though it can also be developed deliberately using chosen terms.[4] A standard term may be given a more precise or
unique usage among practitioners of a field. In many cases jargon causes a barrier to communication with those not
familiar with the language of the field.
Distinction between colloquialism and dialect

The term dialect is used in two distinct ways by linguists. One usage refers to a variation of a language that is
characteristic of a particular group who speak the language.[5] The term is applied most often to regional speech
patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors, such as social class.[6] A dialect that is associated with a
particular social class can be termed a sociolect; a regional dialect may be termed a regiolect or topolect. The other
usage refers to a language socially subordinate to a regional or national standard language, often historically cognate
to the standard, but not a variation of it or in any other sense derived from it.
A dialect is distinguished by its vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation (phonology, including prosody).
References
[1] colloquial. (n.d.) Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved September 10, 2008, from Dictionary.com (http:/ / dictionary. reference. com/
browse/ colloquial)
[2] colloquialism. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1). Retrieved September 10, 2008, from Dictionary.com (http:/ / dictionary. reference.
com/ browse/ colloquialism)
[3] See p. 21 in Language Contact and Lexical Enrichment in Israeli Hebrew (http:/ / www. palgrave. com/ products/ title.
aspx?is=140391723X), by Zuckermann, Ghilad, Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.
[4] Lundin, Leigh (2009-12-31). "Buzzwords bang * splat !" (http:/ / www. criminalbrief. com/ ?p=10866). Don Martin School of Software.
Criminal Brief. .
[5] Oxford English dictionary. (http:/ / dictionary. oed. com/ cgi/ entry/ 50063104?query_type=word& queryword=dialect& first=1&
max_to_show=10& sort_type=alpha& result_place=1& search_id=tFGd-Bh8USU-18775& hilite=50063104)
[6] Merriam-Webster Online dictionary. (http:/ / www. m-w. com/ dictionary/ dialect)
External links
Slangasaurus (http://www.uniteddictionary.com/) A Slang Dictionary
Colloquial Spanish (http://coloquial.es/es/diccionario-del-espanol-coloquial/) Dictionary of Colloquial
Spanish.
Urban Thesaurus (http://urbanthesaur.us) An Urban Thesaurus
Article Sources and Contributors
Article Sources and Contributors

Colloquialism Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=485241567 Contributors: 119, AJR, AgnosticPreachersKid, Algrif, Altenmann, Alys, Amberism3822, Andyjsmith, Anesone,
Angela, ArmadniGeneral, Atreys, Audiovore, Beezeee, BiT, BilCat, Bluemoose, Bubbles21billion, CMG, Cal Evans, CallidoraBlack, CambridgeBayWeather, Can't sleep, clown will eat me,
Capricorn42, Cardsplayer4life, Carlsotr, Ceyockey, Cgingold, CharlesHBennett, CimanyD, Cimorcus, CommonsDelinker, Compellingelegance, Comrade42, Coppertwig, Cyclonefury27, D0762,
Dana boomer, Decltype, Dirrival, DocWatson42, DogueDeBx, Download, DrJos, Dromioofephesus, DuckyTheBunny, Dynaflow, DRahier, EdH, Editsalot, Fabulistic, Falcon8765, FatalError,
Fieryiceissweet, Fit2cook4kids, Footballplayr69, Frecklefoot, Fryed-peach, Fudoreaper, Furbois, F, Galoubet, GaryK IRL, Gene93k, Gensanders, George100, Glane23, Glen, Gopher65,
Graham87, Grezy, Grsz11, Gscshoyru, H1voltage, HV, Hamtechperson, Heimstern, Ida Shaw, Illeoebnbbu, JBsupreme, Jansen-girl2410, Jareha, Jbl1975, Jcadla, Jeepday, Jemoer11, Jeremy
Bolwell, Jhsounds, John Shaffer, John Vandenberg, John o55, Jonkerz, Kalki, Kansan, Karen Johnson, Kelbag, King Toadsworth, Kinu, KnockNrod, Kzzl, Lam Kin Keung, Larry Sanger,
Lethargy, Life of Riley, Lijnema, Lordvisucius, Luk, Luna Santin, LungZeno, Maeyben345, Majora4, Mandarax, Marc Venot, Mayur, Meggar, Melsaran, Mentifisto, Mike hayes, Mike6271,
Million Moments, MonoAV, Moshe Constantine Hassan Al-Silverburg, Mrg3105, N5iln, NYScholar, Nagelfar, Natalee.beard, Nick2588, NoIdeaNick, Onorem, Oxymoron83, Pascal666,
Philosopher-kng, Pigman, Pitching, Plau, Qwerty Binary, RadioFan, Ramir, Randyc, Rehevkor, Rich Farmbrough, Richard K. Carson, Rmhermen, Ruhrjung, S h i v a (Visnu), S.c.dailey,
Sesshomaru, Severinus, Shadypalm88, Simon Villeneuve, Sintonak.X, Sitchy2010, Sj, Smokecrops, Snowmaninthesun, Specs112, Stephenw32768, Sumo.fatty, T-W, TRBP, TX55, Tedder,
TheGreenMartian, TheTito, Thejadefalcon, Tomalak geretkal, Totalpedia, Trekphiler, Tslocum, TwilligToves, Wainstead, Widefox, Wik, Wikipelli, Wolfdog, Wolfehhgg, Yamamoto Ichiro,
Zack wadghiri, Zondor, 305 anonymous edits
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Colloquialism

Distinction between colloquialism and slang

Distinction between colloquialism and jargon

Distinction between colloquialism and dialect

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

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