Slang II
By missak
@missak (3311)
Spain
June 2, 2007 8:55pm CST
I have made a few time ago a discussion asking for slang expressions to learn in english. All I got is answers more or less like "I don't want you to learn to be impolite".
But now I think, is really slang a bad thing? Couldn't it be considered a vanguardist way of expression rising in the low society? Couldn't it be a new way of expression that will evolve the current way as language is always aevolving with society? Couldn't it represent the actual historic moment of now better than the well speaken language?
And also, isn't there a bit of aporofoby behind the rejection of the slang? Isn't there perhaps even a bit of racism, since many slang words come from black people's culture?
My first intention when learning slang is to be aware to understand when someone talks to me in that way. But my second intention, now, is also recognize the worth of a new thing coming from the underprivileged. Would you help me in that terms?
10 people like this
8 responses
@misheleen73 (6037)
• United States
3 Jun 07
I don't think slang is all either "cultural" or "underpriveleged" It is just used by the general population. There are slangs from different races, groups, ethnicities, financial backgrounds, yes. But slang itself is universal. I find I never really use slang as I find it to be lazy or sometimes even ignorant. I am not picking on anyone in particular that uses it, I just think that for example, if we live in the US and we all go to the same schools, and learn the same English language, then we should all know how to speak correctly. There are some slangs, that are widely used and popular, yet there are others that only a select group would know. I wouldn't want to teach someone, just learning English, the slangs of English, I would rather them learn the correct & proper way to say things.
4 people like this
@missak (3311)
• Spain
7 Jun 07
Thank you both for your serious responses, mishelen and misste. Maybe I am worng with my meaning of slang, or maybe the use of slang in US is different than in Cuba and I thought it was similar.
In Cuba, many street words come from old african languages such as Abakua, Congo and Yoruba, and the street words that come from Spain also have a historical background, that is the cultural worth that I was talking about. My target in learning slang (or perhaps I should find a better word for that) was comparing the way this form of expression is developped by different folks.
1 person likes this
@missak (3311)
• Spain
7 Jun 07
I forgot to say I didn't take into account slang in Spain because it is not a genuine thing, they invent their slang translatting form Hollywood films (they hear "n!gga" and they say "negrata" without thinking if that makes sense). So I wanted to know how is slang (or popular way of speaking) formed in other countries.
1 person likes this
@misste78 (539)
• United States
6 Jun 07
it has nothing to do with being underprivileged. Some of the so called highest class of people use slang. It is simply a true expression of one's self.
I am a black woman and I don't think it is at all racist. The fact is even the majority of black people know that slang is to be left to "kickin' it", and not appropriate everywhere you go. The worse thing they could have done was come out with a slang dictionary. It's like throwing everything we learn in school out the window. Remember Language Arts in Grammar School? It taught us pronounciation, our children need that same teaching. Slang should be left out of Education and Business.
3 people like this
@misheleen73 (6037)
• United States
6 Jun 07
I agree 100% misste and appreciate your comment on my response as well. It seems as if many people seem to forget the lessons taught in school. I often wonder if this will be the new "wave" of the future and the English language as we know it will slowly disappear.
1 person likes this
@missak (3311)
• Spain
7 Jun 07
Thank you both for your serious responses, misste and mishelen. Maybe I am worng with my meaning of slang, or maybe the use of slang in US is different than in Cuba and I thought it was similar.
In Cuba, many street words come from old african languages such as Abakua, Congo and Yoruba, and the street words that come from Spain also have a historical background, that is the cultural worth that I was talking about. My target in learning slang (or perhaps I should find a better word for that) was comparing the way this form of expression is developped by different folks.
@ItTakesAllSorts (4096)
•
3 Jun 07
Living in London I know alot of slang so heres a few for you
Buff-goodlooking
Butters-Ugly
Take a butchers-have a look
Apples and Pears-stairs
Me old china(plate)-mate
In it-is it
In London there is such a mixture of languages dating right back to the Cockney Rhymming slang that has been around for years, but sadly is dying out. It was a mixture of English, Romany and Yiddish.
Now in London the West Indies dialect has had a major influence on slang among the working class of our society, if ya know what I mean!!
My daughter is in bed now, but tomorrow I will ask her all the latest slang on the streets, she knows it all and even I have trouble understanding what she is saying.
3 people like this
@egfitz62150 (645)
• United States
4 Jun 07
I so often use slang when I'm talking that I forget that it's slang! It's often only when the person I'm talking to looks at me funny that I realize what I've said. I also know more old slang than new. Things like 'rents (for parents), chick (for woman/girl), queen (for homosexual), gang banger (for participant of multiple rapes of same person on one occasion -- nowadays it means a gang member), rust bucket (for old car), shoot the breeze (chat), chew the fat (chat), off him/her (kill), snuff him/her (kill), nah (no), yep (yes), for sure (yes), awesome (wonderful), etc. Not all slang comes from the underprivileged!!! Any group will want some code words for things they talk about all the time -- kind of a verbal badge of belonging. Like "tranny" for transmission, used by car mechanics. "meds" for medication, used by Drs. and nurses and some patients.
@egfitz62150 (645)
• United States
9 Jun 07
Yes! Language is a living thing. Sometimes a slang word or phrase will become so imbedded in everyday speach that it loses it's slang status and becomes an accepted term by the whole population. A fair amount of slang comes from just abreviating a word, too.
1 person likes this
@susieq223 (3742)
• United States
3 Jun 07
I don't think slang in general is related to race so much as it is to culture. I think you are right in that slang is the street or common language of people and may become the "proper" language at some point in the future. It is not necessarily impolite.
It's hard to pinpoint slang expressions to share with others, because often slang is so tied to a certain area or certain time that it's meaning may be lost someplace else. Sometimes I use slang and don't realize I am doing it at the time. It is a habit.
One of the expressions young people use around here is "being kicked to the curb". It means being put aside for something else considered more important. Or, even worse, just kicked out of the way, like a piece of trash. Funny, I can't think of any more right now.
3 people like this
@missak (3311)
• Spain
7 Jun 07
This one is great! It remains me of "appearing with the mouth full of ants" that we use in Cuban slang, but this one is more serious, it is about making justice on your own.
I think some slang methaphores can reveal a poetic or at least intelligent mind of people.
1 person likes this
@sumofalltears (3988)
• United States
3 Jun 07
Slang is not a bad thing, nor is it relegated to black people, slang comes from all over. Professional people invent words to describe some of their daily activities, school children invent words for their favorite things, and ethnic groups invent slang sometimes by mistake....misinterpretation of a different language sometimes. Solang comes from many different things and people and it is just another form of expression.
3 people like this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
3 Jun 07
The one sure thing about slang is that it is ever changing. When I was a young teenager a few years ago it was Cool It was the in thing. Then it changed to hot. For my kids it was if it was stupid ot negetive it was grossand with my grandkids its so gay or that sucks, Soon all of this will change and be something different.
1 person likes this
@BunGirl (2638)
• United States
6 Jun 07
Firstly, there is just as much slang coming from white people as from black people. Slang can be found in the highest class dining room as well as the ghetto. It has no race, creed or social status. Now, you might find different slang coming from different groups of people, but that's not surprising.
As for why people take this position, I think a lot of people think of slang as being the "bad" words or phrases that have crept into our speech. Somehow it has gained a negative connotation. In reality, slang is a fairly neutral term, but many have been taught that it's a bad thing. Perhaps using the term "colloquialisms" would get you better results.
Another great option is to watch tv shows or movies and when you come across a slang word or phrase you don't understand, ask people here to explain it to you.
Hope this helps!
1 person likes this
