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Phantagraph, v. 11, issue 2, October 1943
Page 3
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3 OUR LANGUAGE AND HISS By D. A. Wollheim At first the writer was inclined to feel that H. Koenig was justified in his attack on the use of the verb "to hiss" for the meaning "to speak with whispered sinister intent." It was not in any dictionary with such a definition--and taking it with its given definition, it was most definitely impossible to sibilate the sentences given. However Koenig has now massed so much evidence of hissing that it is necessary to re-examine the premise. From the vast data Koenig has assembled of the use of the term "to hiss" in the moaning given in the first sentence, it becomes clear that the fault lies not with the authors and editors, but with the compilers of dictionaries. English is a living tongue and meanings change as words are put to new uses. Koenig has amassed definite proof that dozens of different writers, writing for different types and qualities of markets, have found it necessary to use the term hiss. Undoubtedly in the course of writing, it came naturally. In the course of reading, the editor found it proper. And almost all the readers, save only HCK, understood it. The fact is that people understand exactly what is meant when a character hisses something. In context, it is proper and clear. And it is understood as I have described--to speak with whispered sinister intent. In the cases were Koenig has collected, let him try to substitute other terms and yet retain the meaning implied by the protested verb. It cannot be done satisfactorily.
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3 OUR LANGUAGE AND HISS By D. A. Wollheim At first the writer was inclined to feel that H. Koenig was justified in his attack on the use of the verb "to hiss" for the meaning "to speak with whispered sinister intent." It was not in any dictionary with such a definition--and taking it with its given definition, it was most definitely impossible to sibilate the sentences given. However Koenig has now massed so much evidence of hissing that it is necessary to re-examine the premise. From the vast data Koenig has assembled of the use of the term "to hiss" in the moaning given in the first sentence, it becomes clear that the fault lies not with the authors and editors, but with the compilers of dictionaries. English is a living tongue and meanings change as words are put to new uses. Koenig has amassed definite proof that dozens of different writers, writing for different types and qualities of markets, have found it necessary to use the term hiss. Undoubtedly in the course of writing, it came naturally. In the course of reading, the editor found it proper. And almost all the readers, save only HCK, understood it. The fact is that people understand exactly what is meant when a character hisses something. In context, it is proper and clear. And it is understood as I have described--to speak with whispered sinister intent. In the cases were Koenig has collected, let him try to substitute other terms and yet retain the meaning implied by the protested verb. It cannot be done satisfactorily.
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