Language Of Sportsmen As A Source Of American Slang

Language Of Sportsmen As A Source Of American Slang
By Anna Marushkina

 Slang is a kind of language consisting of very informal words and phrases. It is more common in speech than in writing. Slang words are often used in a particular context or by a particular group of people. Slang expressions often embody attitudes and values of group members. The issue of sport slang is actual nowadays because of the arising role of English language in the International Olympic Committee.

American idioms, especially from the sport vocabulary are notable for their vividness, diversity and intrusion. You should pay attention to the following fact, that, lots of idioms arise from different kinds of sport. For example, abscond from one's responsibilities means 'to play in halfback', to fail some opportunity means 'to let the puck pass'. These collocations can be used in everyday life, but some special sport slang idioms are below:

1. Pop the Pill = Shoot the basketball
2. Put the Biscuit in the Basket = Score a Hockey goal
3. Take it to the house = Score a touchdown
4. Going Yard = Hitting a home run
5. Bring the heat = Throw a fastball
6. Tickle the twine = Scoring in basketball, hockey, soccer etc.
7. Can of Corn = An easy fly ball in baseball
8. Going 5 hole = Shooting between the goalies legs in hockey
9. As flirting with a No-No = Close to a no-hitter in baseball

The United States is Sports Crazy! Americans love to play sports, and to watch them on TV or in person. Over the years, many slang expressions have entered American English from the sports world. Three of the sports to give us the most slang are Baseball, Football and Basketball.

To be an interpreter in the sport sphere means that this person has a background knowledge. What are the difficulties which sport interpreter can be faced with? At first, in general, you must have a natural gift to translation, the second, you must be keen on sports yourself and, the last one, you must bear in mind that it is essential to get to know slang idioms and remember that each kind of sport has its own. Some examples are made below:

Bougie n. - in volleyball, a hit on the head by the ball.

Big dance n. - an important event, esp. when the culmination of long preparation or a series of smaller events; (hence) in sports, a tournament or championship game. (Usually constructed with the definite article: the big dance). Can be used in each kind of sport.

In the conclusion, I would like to pay your attention on the word 'sport' itself. Everybody knows its general meaning and this article is devoted to the problem of understanding sport idioms, but there are some extra meanings of the word 'sport': 1) sport n. - form of reference for a male child. Ex.: Hey Sport. How are you?

2) sport v. - to wear smith. Ex.: I'm sporting my new jacket.

Above-listed usages of the word 'sport' are common in everyday informal conversations, but additional meaning exists in slang: good sport - a person who takes a bad situation well.

To sum it up, it is worth to say that slang tends to originate in sport within a society. And it is essential to get to know at least the most common American sport idioms to be able to communicate with Americans.