Sir, – I enjoyed Frank McNally’s Irishman’s Diary (August 8th) on the strangulated speech patterns of teenagers. It is a familiar and frustrating experience for most parents, though one which may now perhaps be put to bed as normal as a result of the research of the University of Texas.
But the behaviour of today’s teenagers seems quite innocuous compared with those of the late fifties and early sixties. Teenage girls in south county Dublin and possibly elsewhere at that time developed their own language, in which they conversed in the presence of boys and were thus able to express their views on the available “talent” to the utter bewilderment of the lads.
From recollection it consisted of inserting an extra syllable in every word and speaking very rapidly. The result was a completely new language unintelligible to the non-adept : if you were a teenage boy in the vicinity of girls you knew to your bewilderment and embarrassment that your attributes were being being discussed and dissected.
I can’t recall the syllable which was inserted nor when this form of speech died out but I do know every teenage boy of the era lived in fear of it. Perhaps some of your readers can throw some light on the subject. – Yours, etc,
DEREK Mac HUGH,
Westminster Lawns,
Foxrock