2773. Language doesn’t hang around © Bruce Goodman 3 July 2023

Admittedly, English was not Salvatore’s first language, but he was pretty good at it. When he walked home from work he liked to listen to turns of phrases and words used by people who passed by. Young people were forever changing expressions. Words came into vogue and went out of fashion as fast as you could think. How quickly language changes. When he left home that morning he kissed his wife and she said, “Don’t hang around after work because we’re getting groceries.” He was a little taken aback because he hadn’t heard the expression “hang around” and had to ask her what it meant. He knew “let it all hang out” but not “hang around”. His wife explained it. She was a native-born English speaker. Such thoughts passed through Salvatore’s mind as he wandered home from work. Language is in a constant state of flux. Probably “don’t hang around” would be obsolete by the time he got home. Changes in language wait for no one. He did arrive home, of course, of course. He kissed his wife and she asked, “What thrushton exarch truff in a rugikity?” Contact Author Back to Index Next Story Previous Story