Americans, is the sentence "What up?" wrong and unacceptable? Pls. help me out.
By mjcookie
@mjcookie (2271)
Philippines
March 13, 2010 4:28am CST
Here's the story.
My friend Ezra posted on Facebook lyrics from the new song "Put It in a Love Song" by Alicia Keys and Beyonce:
"[Alicia] Hey yo B [Beyonce] What up A [Alicia] What we want? [Beyonce] Want them to say"
One of her friends (in Facebook) tried to correct her by saying (translated) "Hey, your grammar is wrong! What the heck is 'what up'? LOL! Hahahahahaha!"
I then commented and told him that the term is slang and so it is somewhat acceptable in the American language. He then said that just because it is slang and used by Americans doesn't mean it is correct. My sister and one of my friends joined in and told him to go tell Beyonce that her grammar is wrong. And then I told him that Ezra just quoted the song, and he said "She quoted a grammatically wrong lyric. So she's wrong, too." LOL.
My friend then asked him if he would alter a song's lyrics just because it is slang, especially that it is a hip-hop/rnb song.
He just kept insisting that it should be "What's up" and not "What up". From the way he asked it seemed like he hadn't heard that term yet.
What's your say? I do not wish to make a big deal out of this. I just want to hear from American myLotters. Thanks.
My friend then asked him if he would alter a song's lyrics just because it is slang, especially that it is a hip-hop/rnb song.
He just kept insisting that it should be "What's up" and not "What up". From the way he asked it seemed like he hadn't heard that term yet.
What's your say? I do not wish to make a big deal out of this. I just want to hear from American myLotters. Thanks.4 responses
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
13 Mar 10
I'm in the U.S. and you can tell the Grammar Cop he's wrong. The slang itself is "What up?"...not "What's up?" which would be the correct grammar. "Baby momma/daddy" is also slang and is grammatically incorrect since it should be "Baby's momma/daddy". Slang is a unique word or phrase and the spelling is part of it's makeup.
1 person likes this
Thanks very much spalladino for the info.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
13 Mar 10
Hey mj! What up!lol I am an American and a BIG fan of Beyonce (B)
and Alica Keys! Now, the quote "What up" is hip hop slang, but
both Beyonce and Alica Keys are making alot of money off the
song, other hip hop artists use the term, many people use the
term and it is acceptable in the hip hop culture! In fact, I
am 57 years old, into hip hop and use the term myself and so
does my boyfriend who is a black male, 47 years old and we both
think nothing of it! We also use the term "Word"! That is another
popular slang hip hop term which kind of means (yes or yeah?)
Some of us Americans are used to using slang at certain times!
I was an English Major in College! So what ya think of that?
Word!
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
1 May 10
mjcookie It grates on my ear this what up,as it really is not grammatically correct and as I am really not a fan of hip hop
I would never use that term. All Americans do not talk like
hip hoppers at all. A lot of us do use correct grammar
and mostly black people use black slang. A lot of us Americans areactually pretty well educated and do not live in the world of
slang. As for Beyonce thats up to her if she wishes to use slang.
I am not much on celebs and how they do things. they are not people'that I care to imitate at all.
@mrfdg1972 (3237)
• Philippines
13 Mar 10
In American English intonation, what you hear is not the exact word as it was written, Americans have a different way of saying/pronouncing words. A lot of times they sound weird to us, but to them there is nothing wrong to it.Try searching for American English 101, you see what i mean.
