Posted on Oct 15, 2015
How have America’s Wars Changed The English Language?
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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
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They are 100 of words the military uses to describe any and ever thing. And each service has their own words. I sure everyone knows what a Buff is. Or the Vietnam generation what a Thud is. I guess that is why it is so easy to talk to a vet.
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Good morning Col. Burroughs & all RP members. One that comes to mind is the French expression "Je parlez avec vous" - "I want to speak with you". The word "parlez" became corrupted to "parlay" and can mean "talk", ie: "Let's parlay". Frankfurt, Germany, was noted for its small sausages, or weiners. The Daschund was bred to chase prey into holes, thus is long and small. Resembling a weiner, it became known as a Weiner Dog. Introduction of weiner sausages to the US and because it resembled the Weiner Dog and served hot, it became the Hot Dog. Some places still advertise them as Weiners.
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One phrase comes to mind as invented by G.I.s in the Korean conflict: "You're in deep kimchi."
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"Ship shape", Keel Haul, not sure if they were from war times but I heard them growing up. Even from my SGM father. I'm sure there are plenty of them out there. They just aren't coming to me right now.
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SCPO Joel Snell
I was told that "shipshape" originated in the British Navy: "Shipshape and Bristol fashion" meaning everything is neatly stowed and ready for heavy seas.
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This is one term that comes to mind, that was used by my Drill Sergeants in Basic Training (1983).
yardbird
[yahrd-burd]
Spell Syllables
Word Origin
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
noun, Slang.
1. a convict or prisoner.
2. an army recruit.
3. a soldier confined to camp and assigned to cleaning the grounds or other menial tasks as punishment for violation of the rules.
Origin of Yardbird
1940-1945, Americanism; yard2+ bird, by analogy with jailbird
yardbird
[yahrd-burd]
Spell Syllables
Word Origin
See more synonyms on Thesaurus.com
noun, Slang.
1. a convict or prisoner.
2. an army recruit.
3. a soldier confined to camp and assigned to cleaning the grounds or other menial tasks as punishment for violation of the rules.
Origin of Yardbird
1940-1945, Americanism; yard2+ bird, by analogy with jailbird
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Sp4 Byron Skinner. No offense but this question is asked backwards. How has the English language adopted to wars. The word "Fuck" predates Shakespeare, an early definition of the word could be …fornication under connect of the King. To appreciate the influence of language on war is to go and read all 1,162 lines of Beowulf and the see what modern translations might be to describe how language tries to describe war.
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Suspended Profile
"Big Chicken Dinner" is one I've heard in movies, so I know it carried over to the civilian world.
"Cup of Joe" Navy tradition claims this to be from when Admiral Josephus “Joe” Daniels banned alcohol on ships. Thus making coffee the strongest drink available.
"Pay the Devil" or "Devil to Pay," though not originally military I'm guessing, is still a nautical term. The "devil" was the keel of a wooden ship and to keep it watertight, someone would have to pay it with tar. Usually someone being punished would have to do it.
Words like "fleet" and "squad" obviously came from the military.
"Toe the Line" and "Scuttlebutt" are a couple more Navy terms.
I've heard civilians say something like "we're Oscar Mike" when headed out somewhere.
"Blue Falcon." "Dear John," and "Shit on a Shingle" need no explanation.
"Go Fast" is a term we used when I was doing Counter-Drug Operations (CD OPS) in the Caribbean back in the 90's. It refers to a cigarette boat...which might also be from the military if we count the Coast Guard. lol
Other than those, all I can think of is stuff like "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" and plenty of other acronym related terms already mentioned by others.
"Cup of Joe" Navy tradition claims this to be from when Admiral Josephus “Joe” Daniels banned alcohol on ships. Thus making coffee the strongest drink available.
"Pay the Devil" or "Devil to Pay," though not originally military I'm guessing, is still a nautical term. The "devil" was the keel of a wooden ship and to keep it watertight, someone would have to pay it with tar. Usually someone being punished would have to do it.
Words like "fleet" and "squad" obviously came from the military.
"Toe the Line" and "Scuttlebutt" are a couple more Navy terms.
I've heard civilians say something like "we're Oscar Mike" when headed out somewhere.
"Blue Falcon." "Dear John," and "Shit on a Shingle" need no explanation.
"Go Fast" is a term we used when I was doing Counter-Drug Operations (CD OPS) in the Caribbean back in the 90's. It refers to a cigarette boat...which might also be from the military if we count the Coast Guard. lol
Other than those, all I can think of is stuff like "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" and plenty of other acronym related terms already mentioned by others.
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So many responses I couldn't read them all. Has anyone mentioned the acronym FUBYOYO ? A Navy diver told me this one a long time ago. Means F@#k you Buddy, You're On Your Own.
Also I see everyone has avoided the worst of all ... Who has ever had a run in with that scoundrel of scoundrels "Jodie" ?
Also I see everyone has avoided the worst of all ... Who has ever had a run in with that scoundrel of scoundrels "Jodie" ?
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