Idioms and slang (was: English slang (semi- sorta on topic))

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 80241

The topic of slang, idioms and pejorative language is interesting 
when you look at the levels on which it operates and at JKR's use of 
it – or non-use - in Harry Potter.

A recent poster was not quite accurate in saying that the rhyming 
element in Cockney slang is omitted; this is not always the case. I 
lived in London from 1949-94 and obviously knew how both "true" 
Cockneys and "ordinary" Londoners spoke. The example of "use your 
loaf" (loaf = loaf of bread = head) was cited. Two others which come 
immediately to mind are "take a butcher's" (butcher's = butcher's 
hook = look) and "barnet" (barnet = Barnet Fair = hair). However, 
some do not get curtailed in this way. "Apples and pears", rhyming 
slang for stairs and "trouble and strife" for wife are still used in 
full – although they tend to be used by older folk nowadays. One I 
also recall hearing once in my teens was "box of toys" for noise.

I was interested to learn that "berk" is from rhyming slang. I think 
its origin is lost to many in that the pronunciation is different to 
the original. "Berkshire" is one of those words where the "e" is 
pronounced as an "a", i.e. pronounced "Barkshire". Other examples 
include "clerk" pronounced "clark" and "Derby" pronounced "Darby".  
Berk is pronounced as it is spelt. (As an aside, the reasons for this 
as for many other quirks of English spelling and pronunciation are 
well-documented in Bill Bryson's excellent "Mother Tongue").

Berk is one of those words which is used as a mild reproof despite 
its "4-letter-word-which-may-not-be-named" origin. I would use it 
jokingly in response to a friend saying  or doing something 
daft. "Git" or "prat" are stronger expressing a greater 
dissatisfaction whereas the "Fs" and "Bs" etc. of this world 
expressive very strong dissatisfaction. JKR seems to hold to these 
rules in her writing as well. Obviously, as a children's book, the 
language needs to be controlled. One of the things which has 
surprised me in the films is that Ron, in particular, is a little bit 
free and easy with some mild swearing which might still offend 
listeners when coming from a child and which does not echo what is 
said in the books.