FTX-198 - LANGUAGE & HUMOUR

THE GAMES WE PLAY - 1

An illustrated talk by Peter OPIE (1918-82) recorded in 1960 following the publication of his English playground survey: "The Lore & Language of Schoolchildren"

Skipping & counting-out rhymes - Effect of TV - the 1960 rhyme-of-the- year: BRONCO LANE - juvenile pugnaciousness: GET LOST YOU BIG SLOB - I'LL BASH YOUR BRAINS - jeers & abusive adult names - historical examples - greedy guts - school dinners - graceful courtly language - singing games - poetry outside the classroom - rhyming riddles - dress - dunces - SCHOOL IN LIVERPOOL - CRY BABY - WATER-CART - COWARDY CUSTARD - TELL TALE TIT - regional truce terms - KEEPERS-FINDERS - Eton - Stepney - Oxford - Yorkshire - playing truant - Police names - Manchester - Wakefield - Bermondsey - Germany - dipping - Cumbrian "Shepherds score" - Roman origins - MY OLD MAN'S A DUSTMAN - football song - Hitler rhymes - NOW THE WAR IS OVER - film stars - DIANA DORS LOST HER DRAWERS - Dean Swift - George Gascoigne - Punch - tangle-talk - puns - conundrums - riddles - THREE CORN FLAKES - DUKE OF EDINBURGH - WHEN IS A DOOR? - WHERE WAS MOSES WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT?

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