This page intentionally left blank Tr ansaction Publisher Publisherss New Brunswick (U.S.A.) and London (U.K.) Copyright © 2003 by Transaction Publishers, New Brunswick, New Jersey All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher All inquiries should be addressed to Transaction Publishers, Rutgers—The State University, 35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-8042 This book is printed on acid-free paper that meets the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Library of Congress Catalog Number: 2002075517 ISBN: 0-7658-0176-0 Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hoggart, Richard, 1918Everyday language and everyday life / Richard Hoggart p cm Includes index ISBN 0-7658-0176-0 (acid-free paper) English language—Spoken English—England Aphorisms and apothegms—History and criticism English language—Social aspects— England Proverbs, English—History and criticism English language— Variation—England English langauge—England—Idioms English language—England—Usage Working class—England—Language Speech and social staus—England 10 England—Social life and customs 11 Maxims—History and criticism 12 Figures of speech I Title PE1074.8 H64 2003 306.44'0942—dc21 2002075517 In loving memory of our sister, Molly This page intentionally left blank For last year’s words belong to last year’s language And next year’s words await another voice (Little Gidding, T S Eliot) This page intentionally left blank Contents Acknowledgments xi Preface to the Transaction Edition xiii Introduction xv Beginnings Approaches Sources Characteristics Bundles and Clusters 16 Poverty and Its Languages 21 The Nature of Poverty Putting up with Poverty Caution Robust and Often Cheerful Resistances Family and Neighbourhood (I) ‘No Place Like Home’ Wars—and Changes in Outlook The Main Characters Marriage Family and Neighbourhood (II) Food Drink Health Weather, the Countryside, and the Time of Year 21 26 31 34 41 41 46 48 54 59 59 68 70 72 ... Data Hoggart, Richard, 191 8Everyday language and everyday life / Richard Hoggart p cm Includes index ISBN 0-7658-0176-0 (acid-free paper) English language Spoken English—England Aphorisms and. .. apothegms—History and criticism English language Social aspects— England Proverbs, English—History and criticism English language Variation—England English langauge—England—Idioms English language England—Usage... gives a false perspective Though small in size, En1 Everyday Language and Everyday Life gland manifestly has a long and rich history, and its language reflects that Best—essential, for an amateur