And the PC brigade were in their infancy. (Did you know? Mao invented “political correctness.” In those days it meant any cultural manifestation—music, art, anything written—that toed the Communist party line. Trouble was, the line shifted so often and so completely, without a moment’s notice, so one week’s Hero was next week’s Pariah.)
’That’s a great deal to make one word mean,’ Alice said in a thoughtful tone. ‘When I make a word do a lot of work like that,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ’I always pay it extra. ’
There are so many words today that have strayed far from their original meaning. For example: “rad!” “awesome!” “gay” (I know so many songs that used that word when it used to mean happy) “thongs”… now they are flip-flops, “dip” as in, “I’m going to dip out” (I’m going to leave". I could go on and on! :D haha!
“Cool” must be one of the most enduring whatchacallums in modern English History. It goes back at least to the Beatnik era in the 1950s and is still widely used today. I think that is pretty cool!
Not so bad with words like marvy, lubricated, etc. Not so good with words and phrases like qualified voter, religious freedom, legal immigrant, executive privilege, etc.
There was a Twilight Zone episode that dealt with very topic called “Wordplay.” It is one of my favorites. As someone once pointed out, it may be similar to what a person experiences when they have dementia.
Dad’s usage of the 1960s words “Marvy” and “Fab” reminds me that I often use the words “marvellous” and “wonderful” to describe this comic strip. Sometimes I vary my praise by using another suitable word such as “awesome” or “magnificent”.
Hmm. I wonder if his use of “spam” caught on. It has a pretty clearly understood meaning today that’s not too far removed from what he seems to be going for.
How do immigrants deal with our slang? It must make a difficult language even more difficult to figure out.
Did ancient cultures use slang? If they did, was it ever used in written documents/scrolls/clay tablets? I could see slang causing LOTS of confusion for linguists trying to figure out an ancient language.
BE THIS GUY about 2 years ago
Totally dope!
Templo S.U.D. about 2 years ago
you’re daft, Calvin
codycab about 2 years ago
More reasons not to listen to Calvin. Brilliant!
C about 2 years ago
Everything old is new again
oldpine52 about 2 years ago
Sounds like he’s been listening to slick Willy.
Scorpio Premium Member about 2 years ago
And Calvin thinks he invented that…. so innocent
LeftCoastKen Premium Member about 2 years ago
Like, cowabunga, dude!
Imagine about 2 years ago
English only exists because some people didn’t want to speak French. That probably applies to all languages.
bluram about 2 years ago
Now that’s one groovy dad!
robnvon Premium Member about 2 years ago
Calvin had been reading Wittgenstein again.
sirbadger about 2 years ago
Dad needs to be careful that he doesn’t accidentally use those phrases in corporate documents.
Bilan about 2 years ago
So when Calvin says that 12 + 5 equals 7, he can claim he’s right.
orinoco womble about 2 years ago
And the PC brigade were in their infancy. (Did you know? Mao invented “political correctness.” In those days it meant any cultural manifestation—music, art, anything written—that toed the Communist party line. Trouble was, the line shifted so often and so completely, without a moment’s notice, so one week’s Hero was next week’s Pariah.)
batmanwithprep about 2 years ago
I just hate the way ‘literally’ is often used nowadays.
meg_grif about 2 years ago
Oh dear. Looks like Calvin’s on track to become a politician.
JudasPeckerwood about 2 years ago
I’m literally nonplussed.
VegaAlopex about 2 years ago
It’s so sick!
chuckcork1 about 2 years ago
Every generation does what it’s predecessor did, but without context to work from thinks it is unique.
scote1379 Premium Member about 2 years ago
Try to teach his Dad to suck eggs ! LOL !
Snolep about 2 years ago
Love him flashing the peace sign.
Snolep about 2 years ago
Words? OMG. LMAO.
Susan00100 about 2 years ago
Dad’s like totally stuck in the ’60’s, y’know??
Groovy!
jonathan about 2 years ago
Calvin was ahead of his time.
Ermine Notyours about 2 years ago
Little did they know in 1992 that “spam” really would take on a new meaning.
DrDavy2000 about 2 years ago
’That’s a great deal to make one word mean,’ Alice said in a thoughtful tone. ‘When I make a word do a lot of work like that,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ’I always pay it extra. ’
humistonbill about 2 years ago
This one’s spookily prophetic!
chaosed2 about 2 years ago
Let me dot that down with my frindle.
Prey about 2 years ago
Still think this is one of the best:- “Hey, you sass that hoopy Ford Prefect? There’s a frood who really knows where his towel is.”
Little Caesar about 2 years ago
Peace. Out.
Saddenedby Premium Member about 2 years ago
let’s go brandon was a Calvin following/reading producer – never knew
Zebrastripes about 2 years ago
Get down!
Gag me with a spoon
… and in the 50’s….
https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/slang/1950-s-slang.html
sandpiper about 2 years ago
As always, Cal inhabits and cultivates his own world. Dad is wise.
txmystic about 2 years ago
Yeet!
amayesin about 2 years ago
Groovy man. Like I can dig it. Tubular.
uniquename about 2 years ago
Dad’s down with that.
nathan.sheriff3 about 2 years ago
Totally tubular dude!
Amra Leo about 2 years ago
Heavy, man…
guenette.charlie(BozoKnows) about 2 years ago
Folks who always wanted Calvin to say “It’s Lubricated,” your ship has come in!
g04922 about 2 years ago
Now, let Calvin translate ’Dad Talk"… The generation gap is still real.
Daltongang Premium Member about 2 years ago
Farm out, Right Arm, Out of State………….
Droptma Styx about 2 years ago
The phrase “some men can get pregnant” simply indicates the language needs a new word.
aerotica69 about 2 years ago
I grok you, Calvin.
Camiyami Premium Member about 2 years ago
There are so many words today that have strayed far from their original meaning. For example: “rad!” “awesome!” “gay” (I know so many songs that used that word when it used to mean happy) “thongs”… now they are flip-flops, “dip” as in, “I’m going to dip out” (I’m going to leave". I could go on and on! :D haha!
klapre about 2 years ago
Especially with pronouns today.
Patriot Dissenter about 2 years ago
Amazingly prescient. Man is woman. Inflation is prosperity.
Frank Farkel Premium Member about 2 years ago
What strikes me is that when this strip was published, the only Spam came out of a can.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member about 2 years ago
lol. rotfl.
mindjob about 2 years ago
There was a great episode in the 90s version of Twilight Zone, where language changes for everyone except one guy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wordplay_(The_Twilight_Zone)
Cozmik Cowboy about 2 years ago
Totally gear.
Indianapolis Smith about 2 years ago
Calvin’s gettin’ JIGGY wit it!
rshive about 2 years ago
Dad seems impressed.
flagmichael about 2 years ago
“Cool” must be one of the most enduring whatchacallums in modern English History. It goes back at least to the Beatnik era in the 1950s and is still widely used today. I think that is pretty cool!
brick10 about 2 years ago
Positutely! Absotively!
Jogger2 about 2 years ago
Humpty Dumpty in Through the Looking Glass.
rugeirn about 2 years ago
Not so bad with words like marvy, lubricated, etc. Not so good with words and phrases like qualified voter, religious freedom, legal immigrant, executive privilege, etc.
The Wolf In Your Midst about 2 years ago
Language must freeze in place and everyone must speak how I do, so that I can ignore the fact that I’m getting old and I’m going to die soon.
ChukLitl Premium Member about 2 years ago
“Temba, his arms wide”
KEA about 2 years ago
a long-standing tradition I do believe
vicharamonastery about 2 years ago
There was a Twilight Zone episode that dealt with very topic called “Wordplay.” It is one of my favorites. As someone once pointed out, it may be similar to what a person experiences when they have dementia.
Calvins Brother about 2 years ago
Uptight and outta sight.
yangeldf about 2 years ago
heh, everyone thinks they’re the first one to think of something
ekke about 2 years ago
Standard Marxist practice; we’re seeing it in action today.
Calvinist1966 about 2 years ago
Dad’s usage of the 1960s words “Marvy” and “Fab” reminds me that I often use the words “marvellous” and “wonderful” to describe this comic strip. Sometimes I vary my praise by using another suitable word such as “awesome” or “magnificent”.
wiley207 about 2 years ago
Heh, Calvin saying he’s phasing is a good way of saying he’s growing up. I also love The Dad’s beatnik/hippie slang at the end.
BiggerNate91 about 2 years ago
Does Calvin really want to use the word “lubricated” regularly, even not in its original meaning?
InquireWithin about 2 years ago
Send it, Calvin
PC200X about 2 years ago
This comic totes slaps. It’s strips like this one that remind me why I’m a Bill Watterson stan. I’m shook. Big mood AF. No cap. I can’t even.
donwestonmysteries about 2 years ago
Yep, Calvin should have been born in the 60s.
Happy, happy, happy!!! Premium Member about 2 years ago
Right on! Thats cool!
John Jorgensen about 2 years ago
Hmm. I wonder if his use of “spam” caught on. It has a pretty clearly understood meaning today that’s not too far removed from what he seems to be going for.
jmccarthy89 about 2 years ago
What is a woman?
Ka`ōnōhi`ula`okahōkūmiomio`ehiku Premium Member about 2 years ago
Few of Calvins predictions are this accurate.
brooklyn51 about 2 years ago
The biggest obstacle to communication is the illusion that it has taken place.
brooklyn51 about 2 years ago
All words are made up.
anomaly about 2 years ago
The purpose of language is communication. Take that away, why make noise at all?
gibberish 101 about 2 years ago
That may be the only Calvin & Hobbes strip that I do not recall ever seeing before.
syzygy47 about 2 years ago
That is so very cofeve!
WCraft Premium Member about 2 years ago
After the past 2 years, I’ve had enough of “new speak.”
willie_mctell about 2 years ago
Further proof that Calvin and Donald J. Trump are the same person.
Stephen Gilberg about 2 years ago
Honestly, I have never encountered “marvy” anywhere else.
bvandrasik about 2 years ago
How random
Major325 about 2 years ago
How very very progressive.
Lightpainter about 2 years ago
Two observations about slang:
How do immigrants deal with our slang? It must make a difficult language even more difficult to figure out.
Did ancient cultures use slang? If they did, was it ever used in written documents/scrolls/clay tablets? I could see slang causing LOTS of confusion for linguists trying to figure out an ancient language.
christelisbetty about 2 years ago
For a treasure trove of 50’s/60’s slang, YouTube search: “Kookie, Kookie< Lend Me Your Comb”
Treehggr87 Premium Member about 2 years ago
Alternative Facts
SweetSinger about 2 years ago
Groovy!
Red33410 about 2 years ago
Been there; done that, Calvin. Try again. grin
montylc2001 about 2 years ago
Sick!
mistercatworks about 2 years ago
I still say this kid could grow up to be an ex-President.
(If you don’t get the joke, please don’t bother to comment.)
Realimaginary1 Premium Member about 2 years ago
Losing is the new winning, or is it the other way around?!!
aayan.stafa about 2 years ago
this is my first time reading Calvin and Hobbes I usually read Big Nate
Otis Rufus Driftwood about 2 years ago
Orwell was right about language being manipulated.
jrgtr42 about 2 years ago
I actually like the term ‘phasing’ in this context. (i presume the translation is, “I’m leaving.”
Boxo croco says happy derby about 2 years ago
Spackling
Le'Roy Hawkins about 2 years ago
Watterson foresaw the Biden Regime. What is a woman?