A-2 English

Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw

Introductory Vocabulary

George Bernard Shaw wrote in an already strange version of English; he didn’t like most apostrophes, for example, and sometimes used odd spellings. Add to that the fact that he wrote Pygmalion in 1912, and add to that the fact that the play contains some very English references and terms, and you may find the opening pages of the play a bother and a confusion.

Here to the rescue is a guide to some vocabulary to start you off. This only takes you through the first 46 pages, when I got tired of the process, and beyond which you’re into the play and the action and humor will take over and guide you the rest of the way.

Some Basic Terms:

phonetics—the study of speech sounds, their production and combination

didactic—intended for teaching or instruction

cockney—a person born in the East End of London, speaking a characteristic dialect

elocution—style or manner of speaking or reading aloud in public; the art of public speaking

Vocabulary Words:

gumption—common sense; courage, initiative, enterprise

hubbub—confused sound of many voices, tumult

deprecating—expressing disapproval of; belittling

copper—British slang for a policeman; hence the American term “cop”

brooding—worrying; pondering in a troubled way

affecting—pretending; making a show of having, feeling, or liking something

brogue—pronunciation of the dialect of the Irish

rebuke—blame or scold in a sharp way

impudence—shameless, bold, disrespectful (see saucy, below)

grudging—reluctant, not willing

impetuous—suddenly and with little thought; rash

petulance—impatient and irritable, especially over petty, unimportant things

pathos—suffering, the feelings aroused by pity, sorrow, sympathy, compassion

brusquely—roughly, abruptly in manner or speech

genteel—showing good taste, refinement, elegant

prudery—extreme modestness or properness

zephyr—a soft, gentle breeze

modulation—a variation in stress or pitch in speaking

drudge—person who does hard or tedious work

saucy—rude, impudent, bold, disrespectful (see impudence, above)

remonstrance—protest, complaint

scullery—a room next to the kitchen, where the pots and pans are kept and cleaned

Some British Terms and Spellings:

shew=show

kerb=curb

toff=upper class person

draught=draft

dustbin=trash can or trash container

A Few Old-Fashioned Items & Terms:

laryngoscope=you can examine the vocal chords with it

Piranesi=an 18^th century architect and engraver

stupent=speechless

guttersnipe=slum child of the streets; anyone with the morals of the gutter

Monkey Brand=an old-fashioned soap