Antonio Johnson
Freshman Composition
Maxwell Schnuer
11/1/22
The Usage of Slang
Slang is commonly used when people choose to use unique words when socializing. It can be different depending on the state or region people are from. This is partly because not every area, individuals speak the exact same way using the same language. Words like “deadass” haven’t been used consistently until only around the 80’s and 90’s and there are many other words which are also just beginning to be used more. Slang can also occur by the use of words with an entirely different meaning. For example, the word “bread” became referred to as another term for money. Also, it’s similar to how “different languages have different words for the same concept” (Comrie). People prefer to use slang as an easier way of communicating with one another
In the text, “A Cultural Approach to Interpersonal Communication” Jane. E Goodman, talks about how overtime language evolves, especially with younger people. Also, that the way people talk changes depending on the audience to make them feel the same way as the speaker. In the article “Why Is Slang More Revealing than you Realize” Katy Steinmetz talks about what slang is and why it is used so often. The article mentions that slang is basically “unique words and expressions” which the younger people use. Also, the distinct words being used would eventually grow more common throughout various communities. Ultimately, these articles add on from each other because they both explain how the way words and phrases change overtime usually starts with the youth. While they may agree with each other, both articles highlight different ways people change their way of speaking. Goodman says they change for people to understand each other better while Steinmetz believes it mainly has to do with the preferred way of speaking, usually amongst young people. This suggest that slang is typically used by the youth and “reports may reflect stereotypes, attitudes, and ideologies of how slang is used rather than linguistic practice” (Goodman, 281). Teenagers and young adults use slang as part of their youth culture and “cool” way to socialize. This is also why younger people tend to speak more formally towards adults than they do with older people such as their parents, teachers and more. When teenagers with a similar background speak to each other, there are more likely to understand each other than two people with an entirely different age group.
The source “History of American Slang Words” by Matt Salter determines how much slang has grown and changed over the years in America. He mentioned how famous writers such as Shakespeare and William Gibson made certain words used more often such as “bare faced and dawn”. Later, this source discusses the origins of slang. It started off by mentioning that the 1950’s was when slang started to become popular. During the 1960’s many of the slang terms used can be recognizable in today’s era. Some of the words were “bread” which means money, “chill” which means to calm down, “crib” which means home, “vibe” which mean how your feeling, and more. Since then, more unique terms that are known today have grown more common. Finally, the source concludes that slang are words that are changed to the point only a certain population would understand along with the meaning of the words.
It can also be argued that slang varies across many different states, particularly in the U.S. The source “56 Things New Yorkers say and what they mean: NY slang from a local”, targets how New Yorkers speak and what specific words they use. They would use words or phrases like “OD”, meaning something that is over the top. Another word a lot of new Yorkers use is “dead-ass” or “dead-serious” which basically means that the person is not joking and mean what he or she say. This reveals how slang is different depending on the location and nearly every state in the U.S have their own popular terms that are unique. For instance, one preferred slang word in Arizona is “snowbirds” which is “apparently people who travel to the Phoenix area for warmth during the winter months”. Another one in the state, Indiana would be the word “sweeper” which is apparently what people call vacuum cleaners. (Rackham, 2018). It is normal for individuals to speak the same language but in a different way depending on the state they are from. Certain words can even be established by smaller groups of people. For instance, “Punk applied to a person, began as a slang term for a catamite, or boy kept by a pederast, and later extended to cover young hoodlums” (Garber, 2014). This reveals that as slang words evolve, the words will become more commonly used and tend to stay that way.
Overall, Slang can be used in multiple ways and occurs most commonly around the younger generation. Slang can either be used with words having a different meaning or a completely new word would be made. When teenagers speak to each other, they are more likely to use slang than adults and this goes for many different areas especially in America despite how different they can be.
Work cited
Goodman, Jane et al “A Cultural Approach to Interpersonal Communication”. social science, February 13, 2012
Opp, Sam “56 things New Yorkers say and what they mean: NY slang. From a local”. Find love and Travel, April 22, 2022
Steinmetz, Katy “Why Slang Is More Revealing Than You May Realize”. Time, December 12, 2018
Rackham, Casey “Here Are the Best Slang Words from Each U.S State”. BuzzFeed, February 16, 2018
Garber, Megan et all “The Evolution of Slang”. The Atlantic, August 5th, 2014
Cover Letter
Going into my phase 3 assignment I was wondering to myself what would be the best subject to research about. I decided to talk about slang because I felt that it would be useful when talking about reading and writing. The easy part for me was finding the sources because I can use any as long as it is relevant to the topic and that I can use it to prove my overall argument. The part I found difficult was finding more ideas and not being so repetitive. Yet overall, the experience was interesting because I don’t usually find my own topic to write about so it was a little new to me. However, I do like having the freedom to find something to write about on my own.
