Expressing Teen Identity by Using Slang: Attitudes and Opinions Towards the Slang of Teenagers

The 1960’s were filled with the most popular gangs called the Greasers and the Socs who used slang as a code. Greasers were kids who were financially troubled and lived in a shady part of town scattered across the East side. Unlike the Greasers, the Socs were the more fortunate kids who could do as they please due to their incomparable wealth compared to Greasers. Some examples of the slang they used as code were Chickies which meant the fuzz or cops and Down Kiddie which was code for girlfriends of the gang. Debs who are the girlfriends of the Although they did not have advanced technology such as iphones, samsungs, and ipads back in the 1960’s, there were several activities teenagers engaged in for entertainment purposes. For instance, teenagers

Sometimes it may be appropriate to use slang with your peers but in normal working with colleagues or service users you should avoid using any language that can be misunderstood or misinterpreted or that might cause offence.

In most period shows, slang is a way to connect it to the time period and show how people talked then. “The script is relatively devoid of period slang, and it lacks any references to pop culture, political figures, or ‘current events’ that might set the action around 1970”(57) Shows like Rent and Hairspray that use period slang or can be set around a certain time because of it. Company does its best to not put any slang into the show so that it can always be considered in the present like the time and place say in the script. The closest thing to slang that is in the show is when, “Harry offers Robert a Bourbon. Given the decline of ‘brown’ liquors since 1970, it’s more likely that today he’d be offered a beer or wine”(57) However, brown liquors are still around and still widely

In the article "Disco Rice, and Other Trash Talk" written by Ian Urbina, the sanitation workers developed their own slang. Many people who work as garbage men cannot understand one persons language, or way of speaking. Using slang as a language is easier for all of the workers to communicate as a group. In addition to making it easier to communicate there are also several other reasons why New York workers use slang terms. First of all, the garbage men are working in the hot summer. In paragraph four it says "It makes disgusting items not so disgusting." Using other words like mongo and Disco rice is looking at the trash in a different way. They would no longer have to picture loads of debris. using different words can also be a distraction

Slang: a type of language that consists of words that are regarded as informal, and is most common in speech, and is typically restricted to a particular context or group of people. Nearly everyday, even without noticing it, most people use slang in their speech on a daily basis. How people speak can be interpreted very differently to listeners depending on their background. Many areas have their own type of speech that usually, only people who come from that background will understand. After reading Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and making an FJAVE dictionary and examples, it is easy to see that speech holds so much power, especially when the people communicating are born around the same time period or if they live in the same area.

A day does not pass me by that I do not come across American language such as, “Babe, bro and dude”. Where does youth get this language from these days? America, thanks to the influence of American media common English words are now laden with an Americanised meaning or application.

Over the years, the slang used by teens in America has changed drastically, from simple words used to describe the appearance of another to phrases to describe being intoxicated. While comparing the words and phrases used in the 1920’s to those commonly used today, I found that there are many with the same definitions, all of which tend to be related to girls, alcohol, and making fun of others.

As we go along in this generation, technology has vastly improved and changed. With this coming along we tend to start adapting to these advanced technologies. Most adolescents today are constantly on their phones for social media, texting, etc. But how is all of this affecting kids, and future generations? Due to this, it may be one of the contributions to why adolescent’s vocabulary in this generation is diminishing. We often hear and see words such as “very” and a lot” frequently employed. In the novel, character Syme believes “if you have a word ‘good,’ what need is there for a word like ‘bad’? Ungood will just do as well-better because it’s exact opposite, which the other is not” (Orwell, 55). In Oceania, their language is Newspeak: to eliminate thought crime and to have no words to express themselves. Additionally, the simplicity of Newspeak makes it nearly impossible for citizens to speak for themselves,

Some terms such as “take a powder” or “killer-diller” have been abandoned by today's society. While others like “Lettuce”, “Joe”, “Moxie” and “Eager Beaver” have stuck around since. The slang used and the meanings are very different than some would think, such as “cook with gas” actually means, to do something right (“Forties Slang (40s) • The 1940's • 1940-1949 • Fashion History Movies Music” ). Some of the slang they used could be easy to figure out such as “hi-de-ho” meaning hello, or “Pennies from heaven” simply meaning to make easy money.

The evolution of Newspeak through the years aides to the creation of a flawed utopia in Oceania. Notably, newspeak has evolved language to be simple and direct. Vocabulary A’s intention express simple, purposive thoughts. Such as, “ hit, run, dog, tree, sugar” (Orwell 301). Vocabulary B are words that can be interchangeable between a noun, adjective, or adverb and to make it a negative just add the prefix un-. In addition to, vocabulary C consist entirely of scientific and technical terms and “could only be entertained in a vague wordless form…” (310). Although Newspeak has become simplistic way of communication

Today’s Kids Are, Like, Killing the English Language by Kirk Johnson shows hows the kids today are changing the ways they speak. The quote, “Even my sons might stop me at this point and squash my hyperbole with a quickly dispensed, ‘Yeah, right, Dad.’(Johnson)” shows how his preteen boy may talk to him. Also another quote,” Parent: Good morning, son, it’s a beautiful day. Eleven year-old boy: Duh(Johnson)” also gives a nice example on how young kids responses are different. The way kids speak has evolved to becoming slangy or almost incorrect. Kids can be influenced to talk like

“A language variety is basically the style of language that a speaker chooses, whether it be slang, jargon, formal or baby-talk. Social factors are the primary reason that speakers choose different styles,” (Payne). Language allows Cumulative human experience, shared perspective, as well as it allows complex, shared, goal directed behavior. “The physical environment of a conversation or oral presentation plays a large role in the variety of language an individual uses,” (Payne). The difference between how and individual may speak with their grandmother and how the speak to a friend is huge. There is always a time and place in which one should speak in a formal language, other times it is alright to talk informal. Language impacts my life in a huge way and it is mostly in a bad way. I surround myself by people that speak a lot of slang and a lot of curse words so it was bound to affect my language, the way I speak has a lot to do with the people I spend my time

Vernacular is like how they talk and sound. They sound very funny and ridiculous. They do not talk as good as we do today and sound funny when speaking. In this time of period, people did not have the great education that most of us get now. He got taken out of school when he was eleven, because his dad died and it was time for him to step up and take that roll. He decided to try the army, but it was not the roll for him.

Also sometimes I use slang words when speaking with my friends. The slang words I use are usually words I pick up from friends. I use these words when I am speaking so I feel closer to them and l accepted, as I speak like one of them. I would never use slang in front of my parents because of the way I fear they may see me. In culture using slang words gives the impression that you are unintelligent and uneducated.

Language has gradually advanced over many millions of years. Slang has developed, and other cultures languages and quirks have made their way in, and it has become one. Language has a way of shaping our identities, and personal cultures. It brings us together, and sometimes it even makes us move apart.