Category Archives: Folk speech

Hooah – Folk Speech

Nationality: American
Age: 56
Occupation: Physician
Residence: Los Angeles
Language: English

Text: Hooah

Context: “Hooah is a term that just about everyone in the military knows. It doesn’t really mean anything specific, it’s more of a general term that means different things in different contexts. You can use it like ‘dude,’ so if we’re in a conversation, I could say ‘hooah’ to be easily agreeable. Or if there’s something awesome I could say ‘HOOAH!’ enthusiastically. If I jump out of a helicopter, I’ll yell ‘hooah’ and that’s sort of an army specific thing. If you ask me to do something I don’t really want to do, I’ll say ‘hooah’ (said with a dejected tone). It can really be used for anything.”

Analysis: It’s no secret that the military has its own unique jargon that is shared amongst its members. Because military life is so difficult, those involved form a bond of companionship stronger than most other groups or organizations in the world, and language is the primary means through which this takes form. But what I think sets “hooah” apart from the countless other military terms and phrases is how broadly usable it is. I can’t think of any terms from any groups that can mean as many things as this. The fact that it is so universal in the military but completely absent anywhere else speaks to the strong community aspect of the institution, which I feel is often overlooked when discussing it.

Chinese proverb

“锲而舍之，朽木不折；锲而不舍，金石可镂。”

Translation – “If you stop carving, even rotten wood can’t be broken; never give up, and even metal and stone can be engraved.”

Encountered by informant – a Chinese speaker – innumerable times growing up, especially in regards to schoolwork.

This proverb is a frequent fixture of Chinese speakers’ conversation. It is often invoked in a similar manner to “where there’s a will, there’s a way,” highlighting the necessity of perseverance and persistent effort in various endeavors.

Generation X Slang Phrase

“Grody to the max.” – Slang phrase indicating that something is the grossest; the worst.

Informant unsure of when first encountered; could have potentially been picked up from a teen movie or TV program. In any case, it saw ubiquitous use by her young Gen X brethren.

A phrase full of 1980s mojo which like other phrases has sadly fallen out of frequent use – at least in full. To that point, a derivative of the phrase – “grody” – does still seem to get occasional mileage as a slang adjective from younger generations.

Lacrosse slang

“Yardsale” – slang term in lacrosse which refers to a stick check that knocks an opponent’s stick out of their hands.

First encountered by informant in childhood – taught to them by elder siblings who played lacrosse.

A yardsale will almost always result in a loose ball and high potential for a turnover. The event is noted for its aesthetic appeal – a yardsale sees the checked stick become airborne, often flipping vertically several times before coming back to earth. The stick’s air time, overall height acquired, and distance travelled can vary depending on the force and angle of the check. Some particularly ridiculous yardsales can see a stick go flying many, many feet into the air and/or traveling a great distance of the field before gravity intervenes.

“That Team Up North”

Slang term for the Michigan Wolverines college football team used by fans and members of the Ohio State Buckeyes college football team.

First encountered by informant while watching College Gameday for one of the yearly Ohio State-Michigan football games.

One of the many indicators of the sustained antipathy that exists between Michigan and Ohio State fans, the phrase “That Team Up North” was coined by Woody Hayes – Ohio State’s famed football coach from 1951 through 1978 – at an uncertain point in his tenure. Hayes coined it because he so detested Michigan that he refused to say their name. Nearly forty years after Hayes’s death, the Ohio State fanbase – one of college football’s largest – still uses “That Team Up North” in everyday parlance for the exact same reason.