Language Run Riot.

If all the words in the English language were shot at you simultaneously they would blow you out of your socks or your mind. If you had to use every one of them once every day you'd probably get radio rabies in short raves and go micro-phoney. If three-fifths of our word-mongery were put in a sack and dumped, you'd still have more than enough to function normally—i.e., to order a drink, explain to your creditors the reason why they are still your creditors, make the usual six o'clock excuse to your wife, and comment on world affairs. To comment on world affairs you need only one word, anyway. In America the one-way word is a national institution. There is practically nothing, from grand larceny to ground alimony that can't be answered both in the affirmative and the nigger-tive with “yeah.” The “huh!” is equally deadly when used in word warfare. Australia also can express a mouthful with “betcher”; but New Zealand's national expletive is a double-barrelled weapon firing “too right!” or “I dunno.”