All aboard! This week, a bit about the musical language of railroad conductors' calls: "Anaheim, Azusa, and Cu-ca-monga!" Also, the origin of the military slang term cumshaw, tips for learning Latin, the influence of Spanish immigrants on English, and the funny story behind why plain-talking Texans say, "We're going to tell how the cow ate the cabbage."
This episode first aired November 9, 2009. Listen here:
Download the MP3 here 23.5 MB).
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A trip to the California State Railroad Museum has Grant musing about the way language can change in the mouth of a single individual—in this case, railroad conductors. He recommends a collection of sound files from metros and subways around the world. For different type of stroll down mem'ry lane, check out Mel Blanc's version of a train conductor here.
Does anyone still say "Shut UP!" to mean "No way!"? A forty-something riding instructor says this Seinfeldian locution confuses some of her younger students.
A caller wonders why his North Carolina-born partner uses the phrase I'd have liked to instead of "I almost" or "I nearly," as in "I'd have liked to died laughing."
Quiz Guy John Chaneski starts a whole lotta shakin' with his puzzle about dances with rhyming names. How about the dance that involves many missteps while dancing to the music of Johann Strauss?
Is "Ouch!" a universal word, or does what you say when you stub your toe depend on what language you speak?
A Seattle-area veteran remembers that in Vietnam he and others like him were known as cumshaw artists. They were the guys who scared up and "permanently borrowed" whatever their unit needed— gasoline, vehicle parts, or whiskey for a party. He's always wondered about the appellation.
The phrase Let's talk about how the cow ate the cabbage means "Let's talk frankly." The hosts talk plainly about the naughty tale that may be behind it.
It's never too late to start learning Latin, a language that will deepen your understanding and appreciation of English. Martha offers tips on how to begin: Getting Started with Latin, by William E. Linney, and Virent Ova! Viret Perna! (Green Eggs and Ham) by Dr. Seuss, with translation help from Jennifer and Terence Tunberg.
A riddle: There's a place where yesterday follows today, and tomorrow's in the middle. Where is it?
The word scarf, meaning "to eat rapidly and greedily," has a long, winding history. Grant helps a listener unravel it.
A die-hard Tyler Perry fan is curious about an emphatic expression she's heard in some of his movies: Hell-to-the-no. What's up with the extra words?
A second-generation Mexican-American wonders how much the English language is being influenced by Spanish, especially after a misunderstanding when he turned to his date in the passenger seat and asked if she wanted to "get down."
Another riddle: I stand on one foot, and my heart is in my head. Who am I?
A caller wonders why his North Carolina-born partner uses the phrase I'd have liked to instead of "I almost" or "I nearly," as in "I'd have liked to died laughing."
I've always heard (and spoken) this as "like to've" as in "I like to've died laughing."
The anecdote of the train conductor reminded me of how the stadium announcer pronounces the names of the home team ballplayers. When I was a girl and we started attending Atros games, we were puzzled and a bit indignant at first over how the crowd treated Jose Cruz, our adored left-fielder. When he was up to bat, the announcer would draw his last name out, "Jose Cruuuuuuuuuuuz," followed by what sounded like a resounding chorus of boos by the crowd. Every time he'd get a hit, as the cheers faded, the same prolonged boos would follow. It didn't take us long to figure out that, rather than booing him, the crowd was gleefully shouting his name the same way the announcer did, "Cruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuz!"
One language shift I've noticed on my daily train rides to and from New York City is the conductors' use of the verb express:
This train will stop at Newark, then will express to Princeton Junction.
Sometimes, depending on my mood, I will add a completing phrase for the announcer: its utter contempt; its profound regret; its wholehearted devotion; its sincerest apologies.
Speaking of Princeton, the University has a traditional cheer, one of the oldest on record, called The Locomotive. I have found a few similar forms documented as Princeton's Locomotive, but all of them are alike. It sounds like a steam engine pulling out of a station, since it starts slowly, then picks up the pace as you go, complete with a little balk after the bah. I like to imagine the balk represents the moment the train hesitates as the back cars catch the forward motion.
I will give you the form I am most familiar with:
Hip! Hip! (Usually by one person, the leader)
Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!
Siss, siss, siss.
Boom, boom, boom, bah!
(Fill in the blank) (Fill in the blank) (Fill in the blank)
Yay!
Actually the words for fill in the blank (often these are class years, especially during reunions: '89; '76; '09; Princeton) might fit the metric pattern of "Fill in the blank" or "Fill the blank" or "Princeton" depending on the number of syllables. I have no idea what the class of '10 will say. Monosyllables usually fall a little flat in this context.
They've got nothing on the railroad announcers of old, but some of the bus drivers around here delight in calling out all the streets along the route. One evening I got one who announced my stop as "os-BOOORNE!", with the pitch shifting upward a fourth on the second syllable. It was all I could do to restrain myself from continuing "...in a crossfire hurricane!"
Conductor: "This train goes to Cleveland, Chicago, St Louis and points west."
Passenger: "I want a train that goes to Philadelphia, and I don't care which way it points."
I think that the loudspeaker systems have changed the language dynamic of railroads. Still, every morning our conductor starts out with a distinctive way of saying: No airport. No airport! He says the first one firmly, then says the second one slowly as if through clenched teeth to someone who responded to the first with an annoying no airport?
This is a charming feature of my morning commute. At this moment I know it is just the right time to start listening to the podcast of AWWW.