SLanG
is a perpetual whirlwind of creativity among the young and avante
garde. These groups are constantly breaking new ground with artistic
expressions of their lives and the life around them. It’s impossible to
be in a hip nightclub, or at a cutting edge art gallery, without the
latest slang flying around like confetti. Why do people use slang? There
are many answers as there are people who are continually reinventing
English as we speak.
Teenagers Are Experts
One of the
first signs of impending adolescence is the desire to put space between
you and your parents’ generation, and the fastest way to do that is
through the art of language.
Teenagers develop their own idioms
and expressions that make adults scratch their heads, trying to figure
out what the slang means (and if it’s something they should be upset
about.)
For example:
- Emo - If you’re
“all emo,” it’s like being a drama queen (a slightly older expression.)
Emo was a type of music that seemed to rip at the souls of adolescent
angst. It frequently included wearing all black clothing, dying one’s
hair pitch black, and having a complexion so paper white that it looked
as if the teen had grown up in the basement.
To be
emo was to be perpetually depressed, moody, and emotional, and
perpetually at odds with society (even if it was nothing more than a
pose.)
- My bad - If a teen has made a
mistake, the phrase “my bad” is frequently employed as a cover. It
means what it appears to mean: “I was bad!”
This is
one of the phrases parents, especially mothers, might pick up on and
use themselves, to the everlasting embarrassment of their children.
“Busted” Ain’t Broke
Some
words have morphed from one meaning to another. Take the word “busted.”
To the grandparents of today’s teens, the word was simply slang for
“broken.”
The last decade or so reinvented “busted” to mean
someone was caught, probably doing something they shouldn’t. If a store
detective saw you stealing a candy bar and nabbed you, you were simply
“busted” (and probably in a lot of trouble).
- Busted
- “Busted” has changed yet again. This time, to say someone is busted
is to mean they are ugly. It’s definitely not a flattering figure of
speech!
Developing Slang Language Words and Phrases
Not all slang words are uniquely developed. Some are created based on other words, or other slang words.
A Change in Meanings
Some words in slang develop from meaning one thing, to meaning another:
- Ride
- The word “ride” is of relatively recent origin. It was initially
meant to mean a car, as in, “here’s my ride” (even if it’s not the
teen’s car, any automobile that could carry him where he wanted to go
deserved the title of “ride.”)
Apparently autos are
in short supply, or teenagers have discovered the shoe leather express.
The word “ride” has become more literal to this group: “How do you like
my ride?” no longer means, “do you like my car?” Now it refers to
sneakers (particularly of the brand name and expensive variety.)
- Tope
- If something is “tope,” it’s cool to the teenage contingent. So
what’s a tope? It’s a combination of “tight” and “dope,” both words
meaning something that’s beyond cool.
So if you’re tope, you’re somewhere in the stratosphere of utter coolness.
- Frenemy
- This term is a combination of the words "friend" and "enemy." It is a
person who appears on one hand to be your friend but, at the same time
is antagonistic towards you.
- Supersize -
Starting with a way to order a bigger order of fries, "supersize" now is
used to point anything, anyone or any idea that is excessively large.
Combinations of Meanings
Other
slang words are developed outside of the usual context of words and are
just combinations of thoughts that create a new word.
For example:
- Greycation - Having your grandparents join your vacation.
- Bro-tox - Men getting botox
- Iceman - A friend with nerves of steel
- Tarhead - Someone who is involved in oil-based recreation such as car racing.
- Affluential - Having both money and power or influence
- Flamed - To have taken everything too seriously
- Awesomity - The highest state of awesome
New Activities Need New Words
Some slang comes from a need to describe new recreational or Internet activities including social networking such as:
- Friend and Unfriend - Adding or removing someone to a circle of communication such as in FaceBook or other social media networks.
- Follow and Unfollow - To add or remove someone to the list of people whose posts you view on Twitter.
- Ollie - A skateboard trick where the rider and board leap into the air
- Planking - Laying your body on top of an object and balancing there while stretched out and stiffened.
Gangsta vs. Wanksta
African American takes on slang are far-ranging, and travel well beyond the circles of black teenagers.
- Gansta
- A “gangsta” is a type of black rap music that’s extremely popular
with teens of all races, and the gangsta is someone is who is both tough
and cool at the same time.
“Gangsta” is hardly a
new word; in fact, it’s at least two decades old. But a new take on
someone who aspires to the gangsta style, but fails miserably, is a
“wanksta.”
- Wanksta - The derivation
of “wanksta” is somewhat sexual, as are many teenage aphorisms. To
“wank” is someone who masturbates excessively; so being a “wanksta” is
not exactly a compliment, even outside teenage circles.
Slang
language is the voice of the people. It's changing daily so be sure to
keep your ears open and stay aware of the meanings...and keep checking
since they may change tomorrow
