Posted on Oct 15, 2015
How have America’s Wars Changed The English Language?
25.2K
410
98
54
54
0
http://taskandpurpose.com/how-americas-wars-have-changed-the-english-language/
RP Members here is anothewr one of those posts/questions that got lost over time in RallyPoint, but it was good one worth sharing again!
What are some the words or phrases that have been coined while you served in the combat zone or during the past wars?
Throughout history, American speech has adopted thousands of soldier-coined slang into everyday language.
However unintentionally, soldiers have become architectures of language and profound agents of change throughout history.
Words are paltry things even when compared to peaceful, everyday human experience, and war words are often invented to describe things that are brutally indescribable, bring humor to things that are not funny, and create designations for things that are otherwise unidentifiable.
RP Members here is anothewr one of those posts/questions that got lost over time in RallyPoint, but it was good one worth sharing again!
What are some the words or phrases that have been coined while you served in the combat zone or during the past wars?
Throughout history, American speech has adopted thousands of soldier-coined slang into everyday language.
However unintentionally, soldiers have become architectures of language and profound agents of change throughout history.
Words are paltry things even when compared to peaceful, everyday human experience, and war words are often invented to describe things that are brutally indescribable, bring humor to things that are not funny, and create designations for things that are otherwise unidentifiable.
Warfare
Freedom of Speech
Languages
Humor
Military History
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 53
8
8
0
These wars invented the word "FOBBIT" I think for the guys that did their level best to NEVER leave the Forward Operating Base (FOB). Plus its a fun word.
(8)
(0)
7
7
0
That is an interesting question, one that I had neither thought of or have a basis to converse from.
So I will watch and learn from what others have to say,
Thank you colonel for the thought provoking share
So I will watch and learn from what others have to say,
Thank you colonel for the thought provoking share
(7)
(0)
7
7
0
Words of War sneaked into our everyday language from almost every war. "Over the top" (WWI climbing out of the trenches to attack) Not so much from my war, the Vietnam War. I wrote on this topic in my own blog where I reflected that Vietnam Veterans left their vernacular behind them for much the same reason that they hid their uniforms when they returned home: To avoid being persecuted by their "friends" and neighbors...
http://jackdurish.com/jacks-blog/can-you-interpret-words-of-war
http://jackdurish.com/jacks-blog/can-you-interpret-words-of-war
Can you interpret words of war?
EVERYDAY LANGUAGE IS rich with idioms and phrases derived from wars throughout the ages: Act of War, All's Fair in Love and War, Axe to Grind, Bite the Bullet, Drop the Bombshell, Great Guns, In Your...
(7)
(0)
7
7
0
Phrases like Chief of Staff were coined from the military even the term company is from the military back in the middle ages where you had companies of warriors.
Me in my personal life I use terms like ORM and METTTC quite often.
Me in my personal life I use terms like ORM and METTTC quite often.
(7)
(0)
7
7
0
Common Military-to-Civilian Translations - ClearanceJobs
The following common military to civilian translations and tips can help you get your point across to potential employers.
(7)
(0)
6
6
0
A couple that come to mind but that are pretty much military or job field specific are "FIGMO"..."Finally I Got My Orders"; the other is somewhat unique to the weather career field, although pilots will be familiar with it and that is "Clear, blue and 22"...clear for unlimited visibility, blue for blue skies, and the 22 never was explained to me, but it sure does rhyme well.
(6)
(0)
CW5 John M.
CAVU - clear and visivility unlimited. “Clear, blue, and 22” implied the same thing but actually states “clear and blue sky with 22 miles visivility” - essentially saying that weather is definitely not going to be a problem. It had to be a number that rhymed with “blue” in order to make into a cutesy phrase.
(1)
(0)
6
6
0
COL Mikel J. Burroughs Maybe some of you old times can add to this. When I was about 15 my dad told me he had never seen int “one finger salute“ before WWII. He told me after the soldiers started coming home, it became common. Although it is not a word is a form of our language.
(6)
(0)
6
6
0
I think our language changed some. Lets look at our entertainment industry, movies, tv and music are filled with military terminology. WHat about fashion industry? as Trump says its HUGE.
(6)
(0)
5
5
0
Having never served I have never heard a New word. But I like Eisenhower's word, 'snafu', similar to 'fubar' but I don't think 'fubar' was a military creation !
(5)
(0)
5
5
0
This post really provoked some great responses. I think a lot of words GIs used during the Viet Nam War and some years after (say 1960- 1980), have faded away. Some words and phrases have faded away from lack of use because they have no relevance now days I think. Frag, fubar, hooch, 90 day wonder, West Point Wizard, skosh, Rikki tik, Momma San, Numba hanna (#1), Numba 10 (the worst) and the ever popular Viet Nam phrase, fucking A or fucking a Tweety are some that come to mind. What a great topic Colonel Burroughs.
(5)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google