Slang, Clarks says, was the language of thieves during the time of Shakespeare. Thieves used this slang in order to conceal the meaning of what they were talking about from other people. Even common terms, such as "kid" is derived from thieves. The word "kid," Clarks says, originally came from "kidnab" or "kid nabbing." Clark says the purpose of language is to express thought, not conceal it. "Why is Lincoln's Gettysburg Address as famous as it is? Because so much is said and so well said in such a few words."
Clark says slang came from the Scandinavian "slenja" meaning "to sling the jaw" or "talk abusively." She says that slang is a way of bad mouthing people and hurting their feelings. That is the reason, Clark says, that most slang does not stick around for long periods of time.
Clark goes on to say that 99 percent of slang does not stick around in language. She says the reason for this is that it is offensive and people's feelings are hurt by it. Clark uses the example of a "bug house," which is another term for an insane asylum. "If you had a dear friend or a relative, and he was judged insane, you'd see why "bug house" is offensive."
I am not a supporter of people writing slang. However, I am not opposed to people speaking slang. There are two distinct differences between speaking and writing. Formal writing should always adhere to Standard English. This makes the reader easily understand the writing, regardless of where they come from. When people try to dictate verbal speech, they are essentially capping the language itself.
ReplyDeleteSlang can be fun, particularly the Cockney rhyming slang used in London. In many instances, slang can actually convey a higher level of learning.
ReplyDeleteThere was a suburban London bar called Brahms & Liszt, and that seemingly upper class name created an uproar. In Cockney rhyming slang, Liszt rhymes with "pissed," which is English slang for getting drunk. Hence, Brahms & Liszt meant getting drunk, but those in the know were upset that the buried meaning was "getting pissed."
Or the bar owner may have just been a clueless music lover.
This article contradicts itself in a way. While it states that slang does not stick around for long periods of time, the word "kid" has been around for ages. I also do not agree that all slang is insulting, as the word "kid" is anything but that. However, it does make sense that offensive slang is lost and forgotten over time because no one would use these certain words. Also, to add to this idea, language is constantly evolving, hence, the reason why slang changes as well. From personal experience, I try to avoid using slang as much as possible in my vocabulary. It makes people sound less intelligent, and it does not sound grammatically correct. For example, the word "children" sounds much more formal than the word "kid." Another aspect that I find interesting about slang is the way that it varies among different countries and cultures. When I met several people from England on my vacation last summer, I was surprised that they spoke Standard Written English, but they assigned different meanings to certain words.
ReplyDeleteI agree in part with what everyone so far has said. I agree with Josh in that I have no problem with people speaking slang in conversation, but it must not find its way into SWE. Mike is also right-- slang can definitely be fun, and it's a way that people associate with one another. It gives us a sense of individuality. My friends and I would sound much different if we adhered to Standard English in speech and no longer incorporated slang. Janelle also makes a very valid point that the author contradicts herself-- why bring up a point of using slang in Shakespearean times and then point out later that slang has a shelf-life?
ReplyDeleteI personally do not feel that all slang is derogatory or hurtful to others. For example, my father uses the term "ice box" to refer to the refrigerator. This is slang in that someone unfamiliar with the lingo would not understand what the term was referring to. However, I fail to see how the words "ice box" are derogatory towards anyone. I therefore disagree with Clark on this issue.
I believe that there is a time and place when slang is appropriate. When people are just hanging out with their friends or maybe even some family, slang can be used. When speaking to an employer or professor, slang is definitely not appropriate. When a student is writing a paper, proper English should always be used. When sending a text message to a friend, slang can be used.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that slang is derogatory either because when it is used, it is the appropriate time for it. Everyone understands what is being said and speaks it as well.
I do not agree with Clark, I believe that slang does stick around. For example, most of our parents try to stay up to date with us but usually mess up by saying slang that was popular when they were younger. And when we were younger, we said what was popular to them as far as slang. Even now, young children may know the up to date slang, but they also start off by saying the older slang as well. In my opinion,99 percent of slang wont die. Also theres a time and a place for everything including slang.
ReplyDeleteI think slang has its place. In some of the examples listed, it shows how it�s important in certain situations. As much as law abiding citizens don�t like thieves, it shows that if you were one, constructing a system of language can be helpful to you. So likewise, slang disappears because of usage � once people would start to learn what those thieves were saying, they had to develop new words. And just the same, slang used by everyone also changes because culture grows and changes. Some of the words become obsolete because either ideas surrounding the slang change or become negated or a new word has replaced it. For example, the word �Groovy� was often used back in the 60�s due to prominent psychedelic culture. Since that culture has died down, that word isn�t heard nearly as often anymore. I don't think slang is something to be discouraged outright in writing - it can make language alot more colorful.
ReplyDeleteSlang is not only shortening speech, but it is also culturally specific. It is personal and meaningful to a lot of people and encapsulates entire cultures sometimes. When you use slang, there is often a specific niche you are trying to fit into. It is part of being in a group and belonging. Although some slang may be around for long periods of time like Janelle pointed out, slang is often not so broadly accepted like the word "kid." For instance, all of the slang we are doing for our Webquest slang project is specific to a culture. It is an intrinsic part of pop culture today, and specific cultural groups around the world.
ReplyDeleteI do not agree with Clark as well. I believe slang does stick around, but the only thing about it is that it evoloves. Slang will always be around, but there will different variations of it as time progress. There is a tiome and a place for slang. In writing, standard English should always be practiced, but when speaking it is different.
ReplyDeleteI agree that slang does not stick around. If you really think about it do we know the slang of the 60's? It's all just words of a generation that we make up. It is nothing premanent. I don't however consider slang as offensive because there are so many ways that it is used. I don't necessarily think that slang is bad I just don't think that it has a place in a professional setting. Since we all are in higher education, I feel that the use of slang should be used less and less.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this article. While slang is fun & somewhat of a connection between groups, it is not appropriate. I believe throughout our lives we, students, have all used many different types of slang and as we age, such slang changes because we mature. So I suppose 'slang' is age appropriate. When we're younger we use rhyming sing-song type sland, adolescents use hurtful slang, teenagers use offensive slang, young adults use slang here and there and so forth. Slang does die out; however,it continues to resurface which seems obvious considering there will always be different age groups.
ReplyDeleteI can understand where slang can used to conceal the meaning of something. If you think about it, a lot of people to this with friends, and family.If you are talking about something you don't want everyone to know, one is going to use certain words, and phrase that hide the exact meaning. I think slang can be used also when shorting words, maybe like in a text, but it should only be used in a leisure setting with friends, and maybe family, but never in the professional world.
ReplyDeleteI dont feel that this article was not quite right. I dont believe that slang is a way to bad mouth someone. I do not agree with Clack. I think that slang in today's world is used as a way to talk, and not to bad mouth someone.
ReplyDelete