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Slang and Politics by Pat Hughes
Communication depends on the ability to understand the non- verbal and verbal language. For language to be accurate, it must always be changing. Slang is a non-standard language composed of exaggerated metaphors, new words or words that on take a new meaning, that helps create the change language needs. The Jonathan David Dictionary of Popular Slang by Anita Pearl gives many slang expressions that come from politics. In the spirit of hope a change in government brings to the future, below are twenty-one slang words that have become part of our culture and helped politicians and people understand each other more easily. Bafflegab: language which serves to obscure and confuse Boy Scout: an idealistic and naive politician Brain Trust: a group of advisors to a candidate Carpetbagger: a political interloper who seeks office in a district not his own Clean Sweep: an election victory in which many candidates from one political party win Hanging on someone's coattails: reaping the benefits of association with a winning politician Credibility gap: the public's disbelief in information from an official source Dark Horse: a candidate chosen to run only when other preferred ones default Diehard: one who espouses a losing cause Dollar Diplomacy: exerting economic or political pressure on other countries to assure acceptance of the American position in world politics Fat Cat: a person of importance Fishing Expedition: looking into the affairs of an opposing group to see whatever information might be available to undermine the group Grassroots: of the common people Hatchetman: a ruthless political aide, whose function is to "do the dirty work" for an official Hoopla: excitement and enthusiasm surrounding a campaign or rally In place: a political spy placed in the ranks of an opposing party Keynote Speech: the speech that expresses party policy at a political gathering Write-in: a candidate whose name does not appear on the ballot, but is written in by the voter Whip: a politician responsible for the presence of party members at a voter session. Wheel horse: a steady political worker faithful to the party Unholy alliance: the unlikely partnership of natural political adversaries united against a common cause As people learn what language means, they become better equipped to use the phrases correctly. Knowledge leads to understanding, and the more the voters know, the easier it becomes to understand. Change does come from the people, so it is to their benefit to learn all they can about the politicians who run the governments. To make the right choice, people need to know and understand what the language is saying, in order to choose correctly.
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