Usage of OK

In order to improve our English, we can often watch some English news and reading, as well as English TV dramas and movies, which can improve our spoken English quickly. Next, I will bring you English reading knowledge. Students who need it can have a look.

First, the source of OK

There are different opinions about the source of OK. Professor Zhou, a famous Chinese scholar, thinks that the following statement made by Professor alan walker Reed, a famous American etymologist, is more convincing and interesting in the article "Looking at the etymology of OK from a poem by Karl Rekosi" published in 1994:

On March 1840, 1 1, new york Times, sponsored by Tammuni Association, advertised and announced the establishment of a club named OK. The members of this club are all followers of Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the United States. In order to support Van Buren's re-election, they named their club after the abbreviation of Old Kinderhook, the place name of his hometown, in order to make Van Buren famous and advertise for him. OK soon spread widely in the United States, and later became the nickname of Bulun, pun intended. When voters asked about OK, Van Buren's followers all replied:? All right, all right! ? In this way, with the passage of time, OK gradually lost its original intention and became? Okay？ This new meaning.

In addition, Professor Reid found that the earliest written record about OK was found in the middle of a long paragraph in the second edition of Boston Morning Post published on March 23rd, 1839. He guessed that this was probably the reason why newspaper editor CharlesGordon Greene deliberately misspelled all correct into the funny form oll korrect, abbreviated as OK. This important discovery was praised by ezra pound, a famous American poet, and accepted and recognized by the general public. Professor Reid was elected as the chairman of American semiotics and a foreign academician of French Academy of Sciences. Mr. OK? (Good sir).

Since then, the word OK has gradually penetrated into the lives of English speakers, and people will use OK to express peace in telegrams. Professor Allen Metcalfe, a famous American scholar and author of OK: The Incredible Story of American Great Men, said that the first sentence that astronaut Buzz Aldrin said on the moon from 65438 to 0969 was? Okay, the engine stopped? .

Now OK has become an international word, and even people who don't understand English know its meaning. Okay, right, okay, okay, okay, agree, agree? Meaning). In fact, the United Nations, which uses six languages, uses OK every day; Translators don't have to translate it into the native language of diplomats, because everyone knows its meaning. Peter Connor, a famous American translator, once said: This is a word that needs no translation. ? During the Spring Festival last year, the author bargained with vendors when buying lobsters in Shanghai Lingpu vegetable market. Unexpectedly, he suddenly said:? Ok, I'll sell it to you. ? I have to say: You're really okay! ?

Second, use OK.

It's very popular in America. It's an irregular spelling of OK. This usage is popular because of Mr. McKee in the American comedy South Park. OK is varied not only in writing and reading, but also in grammar and pragmatic functions. For example:

Used as an adjective.

I hope the children are all right. (predicative)

He made a good decision.

2. Used as an adverb

That car is running well now.

Let's go there, shall we (solicit opinions)

? Shall we go there? All right. ? (expressing agreement)

? Can I use your car? All right. ? (Give permission)

Used as a noun

I heard his faint OK.

We finally got the Committee's permission.

Act as a verb

They will approve the proposal.

The editor will approve the manuscript for publication.

Used as an interjection

All right, you can go.

Well, they know the usage.

The plural form of the noun OK is OK, and the variant forms of the verb OK are OK'd (or OK) and OK'ing (apostrophe can be omitted). The antonym of OK is NG (bad or bad).

It is worth mentioning that since the reform and opening up in China, the word OK has become very popular and a fashionable term. However, due to overuse, there are many misuses. For example:

American colleagues shouted OK to congratulate the 33-year-old China scientist. (Children of China, No.5, 1992)

Mr Schaefer squatted on the ground, watching China ants act so tragically, just like watching a world-class football match, constantly exclaiming: OK! All right! ? (Contemporary 199 165438 +0)

From the first sentence above? Okay？ It should be changed to? Congratulations? ; The second sentence? Okay？ It should be changed to? Oh? Or? God? .

There is even misuse beyond the China standard. For example:

The selection result was written by Li Dapeng? Xi Sheraton Hotel. Most? Okay？ . (Children of China, No.3, 199 1)

The Qiu Chang I know is a warm, busy and smiling young man. (Yangcheng Evening News1July 24, 994)

From the first sentence above? Okay？ Should it be changed to Chinese characters? Okay？ ; The second sentence? Okay？ Should it be changed to Chinese characters? Fuck? .

About 1995 published by Professor Zhou Haizhong? Okay？ In the article, I think this kind of misuse? Okay？ This phenomenon should be highly valued by linguists and even the whole society. In his article, he suggested that among the newspapers and books in China, it is best to put? Okay？ The meaning of is written in Chinese characters; If you like to use it? Okay？ When showing foreign flavor, we should be cautious, correct and standardized to avoid making a fool of ourselves.

Third, OK gesture.

OK gesture plays an important role in body language and has become one of the powerful means of human expression. People can use it to express their thoughts and feelings. In English-speaking countries, especially the United States, people often show off their OK gestures enthusiastically? Okay, right, okay, okay, okay, agree, agree? The meaning of. The correct way to do this gesture is to connect the thumb and forefinger into a ring, the other three fingers are straight and the palms are outward (see the picture above).

However, in some other countries and regions, don't use OK gestures indiscriminately. In Greek, Turkish, Tunisia, Russian and Italian Sardinia, this is a disgusting and filthy gesture; In France, express delivery? Tiny? Or? Worthless? ; In Malta, this is a vicious curse; In Germany and Brazil, it refers to a very hidden hole (such as anus) in the human body; In Venezuela and Colombia, this is considered a very rude and ill-bred gesture; In Japan, what does it mean? Money? ; In Thailand, express delivery? No problem? ; What might this mean in China? Zero? Or? Three? .