"lad": a note on American usage

[Jonathan Lighter]

Of course the "deduction," though correct, was syllogistically indefensible.

That's why I said "Sherlockian."

JL


On Sat, Jun 7, 2014 at 9:28 AM, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
wrote:

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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> Subject:      "lad": a note on American usage
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> In American English "lad" has long been relegated to literary or at least
> journalistic discourse.
>
> But not quite.
>
> A few minutes ago Michael Smerconish of CNN was interviewing Lieutenant
> General James Mattis, former commander of United States Central Command,
> concerning the Bergdahl deal.
>
> Mattis referred offhandedly to Bergdahl (age 28) as "this lad."
> Immediately I deduced that the general (in civs) was a Marine.
>
> This Sherlockian feat was possible because many decades ago I'd read words
> to the effect that USMC officers frequently refer to enlisted men and other
> younger marines as "lads."  And not for "literary" effect.
>
> Just when this began is not clear. My SWAG is that it began in New Zealand
> and Australia during WW2, where many US Marines were stationed and where,
> unless I'm misinformed, the word "lad" still occurs in ordinary
> conversation.
>
> HDAS research suggested that the usage was well established at the time of
> the Korean War.
>
> JL
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>
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--
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org