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Today’s Teenagers Have Invented a Language That Captures the World Perfectly

An illustration of a man with an open book and a pencil, sweating as a teenager stands behind him using a pointer stick to point to the word “cringe,” written on a large paper pad on the wall. They are surrounded by stacks of books.

By Stephen Marche

Mr. Marche is the author, most recently, of “The Next Civil War.”

My son just completed high school and when he leaves for college in the fall my life will change in ways I’m still struggling to contemplate. Among the things I’ll miss most are his lessons in teenage slang. My son has always been generous with me, and I’ve found the slang of his generation to be so much better and more useful than any that I’ve ever used. His slang has also offered me an accidental and useful portrait of how he and his generation see the world.

The primary value of slang has been to create linguistic shibboleths, a way to differentiate yourself quickly from other people. Sometimes the distinction was generational, sometimes it was racial, and sometimes it was ideological, but the slang itself was ultimately a form of social etiquette. From one generation to the next, the terms changed, but the meanings typically didn’t. New words were routinely adopted to express familiar concepts: one generation’s “cool” becomes another’s “dope” and so on.

Members of my son’s generation have a vastly superior approach to slang. They’ve devised a language that responds to the new and distinct reality they face.

Anyone with children, especially ones on the cusp of adulthood, has to reckon with the shameful fact that the world we’re leaving them is so much worse than the one we brought them into. My son’s slang reflects that: It’s a distinct language created for a society that’s characterized, online and off, by collapsing institutions, erosions in trust and a loss of faith in a shared sense of meaning.

“Mid” is an obvious example. I don’t think it even qualifies as teenage slang anymore — it’s too useful and, by now, too widespread. In my son’s usage, things that are mid are things that are essentially average or slightly below. You can’t really complain about them, but they produce no joy. They’re often the result of the refinement of market research to the exact level that tepid consumer acceptance is achieved. Everything in Starbucks falls into the category of “mid.” So does everything in an airport. It’s a brilliant, precise word for a world full of mild disappointments, where the corner bakery that used to do some things well and other things poorly has been reliably replaced by yet another Le Pain Quotidien.

“Glazed” has a similarly impressive precision. When my son describes something as glazed, it’s meant to signify not lying, exactly, or even exaggerating, but the act of positively spinning a judgment. “Glazed” indicates a gilding of information; sports commentary, for example, is 90 percent glaze. When Stephen A. Smith, the quintessential glazer, likens Anthony Edwards to Michael Jordan , a proper response might be “The Ant glazing is crazy.” But glaze is also the perfect description of the way social media works: The world you encounter online is perpetually glazed, with everything taking on an artificially positive, unreal and not entirely trustworthy gloss.

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Speaking, writing and reading are integral to everyday life, where language is the primary tool for expression and communication. Studying how people use language – what words and phrases they unconsciously choose and combine – can help us better understand ourselves and why we behave the way we do.

Linguistics scholars seek to determine what is unique and universal about the language we use, how it is acquired and the ways it changes over time. They consider language as a cultural, social and psychological phenomenon.

“Understanding why and how languages differ tells about the range of what is human,” said Dan Jurafsky , the Jackson Eli Reynolds Professor in Humanities and chair of the Department of Linguistics in the School of Humanities and Sciences at Stanford . “Discovering what’s universal about languages can help us understand the core of our humanity.”

The stories below represent some of the ways linguists have investigated many aspects of language, including its semantics and syntax, phonetics and phonology, and its social, psychological and computational aspects.

Understanding stereotypes

Stanford linguists and psychologists study how language is interpreted by people. Even the slightest differences in language use can correspond with biased beliefs of the speakers, according to research.

One study showed that a relatively harmless sentence, such as “girls are as good as boys at math,” can subtly perpetuate sexist stereotypes. Because of the statement’s grammatical structure, it implies that being good at math is more common or natural for boys than girls, the researchers said.

Language can play a big role in how we and others perceive the world, and linguists work to discover what words and phrases can influence us, unknowingly.

How well-meaning statements can spread stereotypes unintentionally

New Stanford research shows that sentences that frame one gender as the standard for the other can unintentionally perpetuate biases.

Algorithms reveal changes in stereotypes

New Stanford research shows that, over the past century, linguistic changes in gender and ethnic stereotypes correlated with major social movements and demographic changes in the U.S. Census data.

Exploring what an interruption is in conversation

Stanford doctoral candidate Katherine Hilton found that people perceive interruptions in conversation differently, and those perceptions differ depending on the listener’s own conversational style as well as gender.

Cops speak less respectfully to black community members

Professors Jennifer Eberhardt and Dan Jurafsky, along with other Stanford researchers, detected racial disparities in police officers’ speech after analyzing more than 100 hours of body camera footage from Oakland Police.

How other languages inform our own

People speak roughly 7,000 languages worldwide. Although there is a lot in common among languages, each one is unique, both in its structure and in the way it reflects the culture of the people who speak it.

Jurafsky said it’s important to study languages other than our own and how they develop over time because it can help scholars understand what lies at the foundation of humans’ unique way of communicating with one another.

“All this research can help us discover what it means to be human,” Jurafsky said.

Stanford PhD student documents indigenous language of Papua New Guinea

Fifth-year PhD student Kate Lindsey recently returned to the United States after a year of documenting an obscure language indigenous to the South Pacific nation.

Students explore Esperanto across Europe

In a research project spanning eight countries, two Stanford students search for Esperanto, a constructed language, against the backdrop of European populism.

Chris Manning: How computers are learning to understand language

A computer scientist discusses the evolution of computational linguistics and where it’s headed next.

Stanford research explores novel perspectives on the evolution of Spanish

Using digital tools and literature to explore the evolution of the Spanish language, Stanford researcher Cuauhtémoc García-García reveals a new historical perspective on linguistic changes in Latin America and Spain.

Language as a lens into behavior

Linguists analyze how certain speech patterns correspond to particular behaviors, including how language can impact people’s buying decisions or influence their social media use.

For example, in one research paper, a group of Stanford researchers examined the differences in how Republicans and Democrats express themselves online to better understand how a polarization of beliefs can occur on social media.

“We live in a very polarized time,” Jurafsky said. “Understanding what different groups of people say and why is the first step in determining how we can help bring people together.”

Analyzing the tweets of Republicans and Democrats

New research by Dora Demszky and colleagues examined how Republicans and Democrats express themselves online in an attempt to understand how polarization of beliefs occurs on social media.

Examining bilingual behavior of children at Texas preschool

A Stanford senior studied a group of bilingual children at a Spanish immersion preschool in Texas to understand how they distinguished between their two languages.

Predicting sales of online products from advertising language

Stanford linguist Dan Jurafsky and colleagues have found that products in Japan sell better if their advertising includes polite language and words that invoke cultural traditions or authority.

Language can help the elderly cope with the challenges of aging, says Stanford professor

By examining conversations of elderly Japanese women, linguist Yoshiko Matsumoto uncovers language techniques that help people move past traumatic events and regain a sense of normalcy.

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How Slang or Informal Language Impacts us Daily

August 29, 2023

Language is a dynamic, ever-evolving phenomenon that is influenced by several factors such as environment, culture, and interpersonal interactions. Slang words are an interesting part of language that significantly affect daily living. Slang is an assortment of expressions, phrases, and idioms that are often used by particular communities or groups but do not exist in formal language. This article examines the role of slang in the formation of cultural identities as well as its potency, applications, and effects on communication.

What is Slang?

Let us know about different aspects of slang and its impact on our daily lives.

Slang is useful in communicating in many ways. It first strengthens a feeling of belonging and collective identity. Slang usage within a group indicates a shared history, set of values, and level of expertise. IT professionals, for instance, could use words like "algorithm" and "debug" to establish a connection based on a common interest.

Secondly, slang can function as a form of social differentiation. Slang terminology and phrases can be used to denote belonging to a certain age or social group. For example, young people usually create their own terminology to set themselves apart from adults.

Lastly, among friends or peers, slang may be used to express familiarity and togetherness. It could create a casual atmosphere and foster a sense of camaraderie that formal language might not be able to convey.

Slang use significantly affects communication. Slang offers subtlety and passion, whereas formal language is exact and ordered. Language gaps, or the inability of formal words to adequately express particular ideas or experiences, are often the cause of slang formation. Take the term "hangry," which is a combination of the words "hungry" and "angry."

This encapsulates the complex feeling of rage brought on by hunger. Slang may inspire wordplay and ingenuity as well. Shakespearean slang, or "can't," used words to obscure meanings and subvert conventions. Even now, slang encourages inventive language use.

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Cultural Identity Formation

One essential component of cultural identity is slang. Slang is created by community members to express their beliefs, viewpoints, and experiences. For instance, the slang of African American Vernacular English (AAVE) has influenced pop culture, fashion, and music.

Slang serves as a linguistic fingerprint, indicating one's affiliation with a certain cultural group or subculture. It can also be used for protest and social criticism. During times of oppression, marginalized groups have used slang to communicate discreetly, creating a sense of unity and defiance.

Development and Obstacles

It might be challenging to understand slang's ever-changing nature, though. Terminology may easily become outdated and slang can change swiftly. What is trendy today could not be so tomorrow. Slang's informality can sometimes cause miscommunication, particularly amongst members of various generations or ethnic groups.

When someone understands a slang word differently than its intended meaning, misinterpretations may result. This emphasizes how important context is when using slang. Additionally, some terminology uses language that is inaccurate or reinforces stereotypes, which is indicative of cultural prejudices. Slang may exclude as well as empower.

Slang in the Age of Technology

The slang landscape has changed in the internet age. Online forums, texting, and social media platforms have all contributed to the spread of slang. Emoji, acronyms, and abbreviations have developed into digital vernacular that may succinctly convey complicated emotions.

These platforms' requirement for brevity has resulted in language compression, which reduces words and sentences to their most fundamental parts. This occurrence shows how flexible slang can be while still defying conventional linguistic norms.

Popular Culture Slang

Slang is widely used in popular culture and frequently reflects changes in socioeconomic conditions. Influencers, performers, and musicians use their skills to promote jargon. TV series, films, and viral videos may all have catchphrases that swiftly find their way into common conversation. This dynamic interplay between slang and the media shows how language changes in reaction to new forms of communication.

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And last, slang has a special influence on day-to-day living. It is an interesting phenomena in language because of its many goals, influence on communication, function in forming cultural identity, problems, and development. Slang fosters a sense of community, creativity, and connection by bridging the gap between formal language and personal expression. It illustrates how civilization is ever-evolving and shows how creative humans can be while working under linguistic limitations. The way that slang evolves together with its influence on society and communication shows how flexible language is.

1. the evolution of english: contributions of european languages, 2 . confusing english idioms and motivating students, 3. reading app for kids to improve comprehension skills, 4. close reading skills.

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A Close Look at the Function of Slang

Ana is an undecided major, born and raised in Boston to Serbian and Lebanese parents. Writing has always been a passion of Ana’s, and she created this research essay as a final project for her Composition II course. She notes that “it was a topic that became increasingly interesting the more I researched it. I was thoroughly surprised by the complex history and function of slang, and I gained a new perspective on the role of language in our daily lives.” Other than writing, Ana’s biggest passion is traveling, and she loves discovering new places, meeting people from all around the world, and learning about different cultures.

For a PDF copy of this essay, click here .

We encounter slang on a daily basis, whether it’s through spoken word, text messages, social media posts, or the slang-ridden Internet. There is no doubting the prevalence of slang in our everyday conversations and interactions, however what I’m interested in is discovering what role slang plays in our everyday lives. Why do we use slang? What does it achieve? In other words, I want to know the function of slang. Many people view slang in a negative way, and even consider people who use it heavily stupid, uneducated, or lazy. I, however, think there’s more to slang than what meets the eye, and in the following, I will attempt to illustrate the significance and function of slang.

Slang is known as “very informal usage in vocabulary and idiom that is characteristically more metaphorical, playful, elliptical, vivid, and ephemeral than ordinary language ” (“Slang”). Linguists have struggled to clearly define slang, but what they have come up with so far is that slang is “a linguistic phenomenon ever present and consistently changing” (“Slang”). Linguists Bethany K. Dumas and Jonathan Lighter claim that if words and phrases meet the following criteria then they are considered slang: “1. Its presence will markedly lower, at least for the moment, the dignity of formal or serious speech or writing; 2. Its use implies the user’s special familiarity either with referent or with that less statusful or less responsible class of people who have such special familiarity and the use of the term; 3. It is a tabooed term in ordinary discourse with persons of higher social status or greater responsibility; 4. It is used in place of the well-known conventional synonym, especially in order (a) to protect the user from the discomfort caused by the conventional item or (b) to protect the user from the discomfort or annoyance of further elaboration” (Dumas & Lighter 14-15). This is the most concise definition of slang I came across, and I believe it covers every possibility of what can be considered slang. It also implies situations where slang is used, which will be helpful in starting to understand the function of slang. Some examples of common slang words and phrases that are used today are “extra” (used when someone is going over the top in a situation), “salty” (used to describe someone that is angry or bothered), or “throw shade” (to insult someone).

Before considering the function of slang, it is necessary to consider the significance of language in general. I think the following aspects of language can be directly translated to slang and used to explain the importance of slang, seeing as slang is an integral part of language, and it is a form of language. Anca Sirbu explains that “language is essentially a means of communication among the members of society” and that “common language is the one of the most important features of a community” (Sirbu 1). Furthermore, she states that language is “a tool that conveys traditions and values related to group identity” (Sirbu 1). Seeing as Sirbu talks about language in relation to society, community, and groups, indicates that language has a far greater significance within a group than it does on an individual level. The fact that language is related to group identity is extremely important to consider when it comes to slang, because slang has a strong association with groups. Professor of Linguistics, D.W. Maurer, explains how:

When an individual applies language in a new way to express hostility, ridicule, or contempt, often with sharp wit, he may be creating slang, but the new expression will perish unless it is picked up by others (Maurer 1).

It can be concluded that slang only emerges if it is used by a group. Once groups have acquired certain words or phrases, and start using them to communicate with other members of the group, those certain words and phrases will become more known and popular.

Slang is also connected to the identity of a group. As Sirbu says, language is a conveyor of a group’s tradition and values, and Mauer explains that if a creator of a slang expression/word “is a member of a group that finds his creation projects the emotional reaction of its members toward an idea, person, or social institution, the expression will gain currency according to the unanimity of attitude within the group” (Mauer 1). The fact that slang will only “gain currency” within a group if it matches their attitude is an indicator that slang can be used to express the identity of a group. An example of this can be found in any new generation. As generations come and go, so do certain phrases and words, but there is a reason that slang associated with one generation, is usually not found in the next. Daily Arts writer Sam Rosenberg reminds readers that in the 1950s, “an age swept up in conservative values, young people used “swell” as their very own colloquialism” (Rosenberg). The 1950’s followed WWII, and people were doing their best to recuperate. They had hope for the future and were “content, but many others felt ill at ease because of the speed at which the world was changing” (Shmoop). In order to cope and mask their troubles, people “embraced religion and visited psychiatrists in unprecedented numbers” (Shmoop). “Swell” doesn’t exactly mean that everything is just perfect and amazing but rather that things are okay. I think the fact that “swell” was commonly used during this era, shows that life wasn’t particular the best it could be and there was some troubles, but it also wasn’t as bad as it was during the war, so things were simply fine. Since people in the 50s were trying desperately to distract themselves with things like therapy, and religion and pretend that everything was okay, it makes sense that people were going around telling each other that everything was just “swell”.

With the change of times, came the change of slang words. During the “lively era” of the ‘80s and the “grunge scene” of the ‘90s, words like “cool,” “groovy,” “wicked,” and “sweet,” became popular (Rosenberg). The new slang words used in the ‘80s and ‘90s expressed the newfound identity of the generation. It was a livelier generation, and therefore the slang words associated with the generation were livelier and more creative. The 70s saw a surge in the Rock and Roll Genre as well as Disco music which “prompted the opening of hundreds of dance clubs around the country,” and “people became free thinkers, questioning government and demanding that their voices be heard” (“70s Culture”). No longer were people pretending everything was okay, they were fighting back, speaking their mind, and pushing against conservative ways. Their livelier demeanor can be seen through the slang terms they used. “Cool” and “groovy” are far more livelier words than “swell” is, because they are more enthusiastic in their definitions; they’re a way of saying something is awesome or excellent. People used “cool” and “groovy” to express genuine interest in something. The 90s are known for being ridden with lust, sex, and drugs, which suggests that people during this era were completely going against conservative values, and weren’t concerned with what was considered morally right during the time. It only makes sense then that “wicked” became a popularly used slang term, seeing as it means evil or morally wrong. Since the 80s and 90s weren’t as conservative as the previous generations, the slang words associated with the previous generations were no longer an accurate representation of the new one. Therefore the old slang expressions disappeared, and new ones that did match the attitude and expressed the generation’s collective identity formed.

While the above example shows slang’s role in a groups expression of identity, it also exemplifies how slang can be an expression of modernity. Modernity can be thought of as “the self-definition of a generation”, as well as up-to-date and contemporary times— not to be confused with the Modern Era (Snyder). I consider technology to be a good example of Modernity. It is constantly evolving, adapting to contemporary times, and it also defines generations. The 80s will always be remembered for the Walkman, the 90s for the Web, and the 2000s for the iPhone. Similarly, slang is always up-to-date with the times, and as we’ve established it also aids in expressing the identity of a generation. Since generations acquire and form slang that expresses aspects of their generation, I believe that slang is in fact part of a generation’s “self-definition”, and thus slang can be a representation of modernity. Modernity is constantly changing due to its relation to present times, just as slang is constantly changing, because it too, is related to present times. Conversely, modernity is not antiquated; it’s a “departure from traditional styles or values” and the remote past (“Modernity”). This can directly translate to slang, because slang deviates from the past and goes against traditional styles and values.

One instance where slang expresses modernity and is used to go against traditional styles is in 1954, during the “postwar years” (Fisher 1). During the Royal Tour of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, a controversy occurred when the Queen reportedly said the phrase “‘this must have cost a packet’” after she was gifted a diamond and brooch at a state dinner (Fisher 1). “Cost a packet” is a phrase used in British English, which means to “cost a lot”. In other words, the Queen was expressing that her gift must have been very expensive. Seeing as this was a slang phrase, many people were shocked that the Queen, the epitome of tradition, would use this expression. An Australian magazine called The Argus responded to this controversy by assuring people that “she had said it, and further noted that ‘she is a young woman, modern in her outlook, and, naturally enough, given to using the phrases and expressions of the one for a young women to use’” (Fisher 1). In this incident, the Queen’s slang use is being connected to modernity, and the magazines response is suggesting that a modern outlook can be achieved by using slang. Additionally, the positive tone of the response implies that the magazine is encouraging young woman to use slang phrases and expressions. In other words, the magazine is encouraging the idea of women deviating from traditional styles, in this case traditional vernacular, by using slang.

Apart from the incident with the Queen, and in addition to slang expressing modernity, slang also played an integral part in liberating women and giving them a voice during the postwar years. Slang words during this time mainly referenced “male experiences”, such as “grazing, the gold rush, bush life, sport, gambling and the military” (Fisher 1). Women were predominantly excluded from slang references, and slang use in general (Fisher 1). They were expected to be “guardians of correct speech”, and were looked down upon if they used any informal language (Fisher 2). However, in the 1940’s, “the emergent teenage culture provided a new space for girls to use slang terms along with boys” (Fisher 2). Slang started being associated with teenagers, and magazines started using slang in order to address teenagers. Eventually, “more respectable publications” started using slang to address the youth, “which indicated that teenage culture had become mainstream and that the use of colloquial language was seen as a normal part of adolescence” (Fisher 2). The emergence of teenage culture and the acceptability of their slang use made it more acceptable for middle-class women to use slang. Slang “came to be considered an important part of speech” which was “a significant aspect of performing modern middle-class femininity”, and it was “promoted and reinforced by women’s magazines” (Fisher 3). One particular magazine took things a step further and encouraged women to make their own slang terms, saying “women must use their own brands of today’s English, not copy the ones men have developed for themselves” (Fisher 3). Women reacted to these magazines by sending in letters, and “the letter pages of women’s magazines were a space within which readers could formulate a distinctive identity as modern middle class women through their use informalities and colloquialisms” (Fisher 3). More importantly, “the language used in these letters therefore worked to create an imagined community amongst readers, which evoked the kinds of conversations women could have over their fences or in their living room” (Fisher 3). The magazines started a conversation among Women, and encouraged them to take control of their femininity, and fight against the belief that women should not use slang. Through these letters and the ongoing conversation between women that was evoked by the magazine, new slang words were created by women that expressed women and their experiences. Slang words like “wifey, coz (cousin)…girlie (daughter), only (only child), hubby, sonny, and Miss Pious”, were created (Fisher 4). These slang words evolved from the stories women told about their everyday life and experiences in the letters that they sent in to the magazines. Women were able to use slang to break through standards, and to liberate themselves from traditional styles. Additionally, by creating their own terms and expressions, slang enabled women to have a voice and use language that represented women, and to finally bring femininity to Australian English. This example shows how slang can liberate a group: by differentiating them from other groups, and giving them their own unique voice.

Now that we’ve seen what slang can do for a group collectively, it’s important to consider what slang can do for members of a group. Consider once more Sirbu’s claim: “common language is the one of the most important features of a community” (Sirbu 1). Sirbu specifically says a common language is of great importance within a community, in that it’s the fact that a community has a language that everyone understands, that makes language a significant part of a community; it provides a commonality between groups of people. I think slang can be considered a “common language” within a group, because each group has particular slang words and expressions that is common in their group, and that all members understand. Considering slang is a common language within a group it can then be deduced from Sirbu’s claim about common language; that slang in an important feature of a community.

An example of where slang proves to be an important feature of a community/group is on college campuses. Just as it differs from group to group what particular slang they use to communicate with each other, every college campus has slang particular to their own campus. A study on campus slang found that in order for students to effectively communicate with each other and cooperate with each other, “the first important thing is to speak one common language, that is, campus slang” (Wang 4). A group can have more of an understanding for each other when they use a common language such as slang, which in turn increases the level of communication and cooperation. My personal research resulted in similar findings, with 60% of respondents saying slang can be used for agreeability between individuals, and establishing friendliness between one another. Slang offers commonality to a group or community, and establishes the similarities between members of a group, therefore increasing the cohesiveness of a group.

Another finding during the study on campus slang was that members use slang simply because it’s fun and creative. The study explains that because the formation of slang entails creating new words, and new meanings out of words, that slang provides college students with “more space for the imagination and creativity” (Wang 3). Similarly, Professor of English and studier of slang Michael Adams says, “There is creative value in the creation of new language among different social groups” (Adams). Surprisingly, only 3% of respondents to my survey said that slang is used in order to be creative. I believe this response is due not to the fact that people don’t think slang is creative, but rather that people don’t use slang with the conscious purpose of being creative, or being seen as creative. It is without question that creativity is strongly associated with slang, because the formation of slang entails innovative, creative, and original thinking.

Another important factor about slang is that it is often times found in humorous situations, and usually used to convey humor, lightheartedness, and casualness. While observing a particular conversation between three young women over the social media app Facebook, I noticed that the intention behind the majority usage of slang was to be humorous. Consider the following interaction between three members of a group chat:

Person 1: (Persons name), shut the fuck up what r u trying to do

Person 2: (Person’s name), you need to chill

Person 3: ahahahahah damn didn’t mean to start beef

The term “start beef”, is a humorous way of saying “to have a grudge with another person” (“Beef”). In this example, slang is used to alleviate the tension in the conversation by inserting humor. Consequently, it makes the conversation more lighthearted. If Person 3 had answered something like, “I apologize, I did not mean to start a problem between you two”, it would just add to the seriousness of the conversation and most likely increase tension. In addition to my observations, the survey I posted resulted in 58% of respondents saying slang makes conversations and situations more humorous. Humor aids in making a conversation more casual, and makes situations more relaxed. Therefore, I think the presence of humorous slang allows individuals to let their guard down. This relates with my own research, where 73% of respondents said that slang makes conversations more casual and relaxed. The combination of the humor and casual tone that can be achieved by using slang takes away any stiffness and tension in a situation.

A specific example of how slang can be used to make conversation more casual is in regards to talking about taboo subjects. Slang “serves to change the level of conversation from formal to informal, allowing users to handle awkward social situations. Slang is often used to discuss semi-taboo subjects, such as: drunkenness, sexual organs and activities, drugs and drug use, ‘elimination’ and ‘bodily waste’” (Hess). While I believe that slang can make awkward conversations easier to navigate because it takes away some formality from the conversation, I also think it makes it easier to talk about the above taboo subjects because completely new names are given to them. That way people can talk about taboo subjects without ever directly needing to say taboo terms. For example, it’s a lot easier to casually talk about genitalia by using slang words, rather than using the scientific terms. What way would you find it more comfortable to ask a friend about drunkenness: How intoxicated are you currently? Or, how hammered are you? I’m guessing the latter, because it allows you to ask about a taboo subject without explicitly needing to say anything. Additionally, an overwhelming 82% of respondents to my survey agree that slang makes it easier to discuss the taboo subjects stated above. Considering all this information, I think slang acts to take away stress associated with formal situations, which in turn relaxes individuals, and makes communication easier, and more casual.

It is clear that slang is extremely complex, and has a significant role in our daily lives, as well as significance in what it does for our daily lives. There are many important functions of slang, some subtle and some obvious. I see no reason to believe that slang use entails laziness, stupidity, or for lack of a better term, uneducated. In fact, I believe individuals should be impressed with what slang can achieve. My ultimate belief about slang is that it is an impressively powerful tool that we use to break barriers between one another. Consider once more the women during the post-war years who used slang to break the barriers between themselves and men through the use of colloquial language, or the conversation between the three girls where slang was used to break barriers by cutting the tension and inserting some lightheartedness in the situation, and also the fact that slang allows people to break barriers by enabling them to talk about awkward subjects in a casual way. Additionally, the fact that slang establishes agreeability and friendliness with one another, takes away tension in situations, and allows us to cooperate with one another, further proves how slang is used in order to break barriers.

I’ll leave you with a personal experience, that didn’t make sense to me until my newfound understanding of slang. I am half Serbian and half Lebanese, but I have always been more in touch with my Serbian counterpart. Though I was born in America, Serbian was my first language. I’ve noticed over the years when travelling to Serbia, that my sister and I have a very easy time conversing with and connecting to adults. We’re able to fully understand what they are saying, and they are able to understand what we are saying. We’ve acquired many meaningful relationships with adults from Serbia, whether they are our aunts and uncles, friends of my mom, neighbors that live in my grandmother’s apartment, or even the cashiers at the local markets. What’s strange however, is that my sister and I have gone to Serbia every summer of our lives and we still haven’t really connected with our cousins, which are the only people we encounter there that are our age. This always confused and frustrated me because no matter how much time we spent with them there was always a disconnect, and we just weren’t able to become close with them. It took me years to realize that this disconnect was due to language or more specifically, slang. My sister and I had an immensely hard time understanding what they were saying, and this confusion only occurred when we were talking with our young cousins, but never with adults. It soon became apparent that it was their slang use that confused us, as we weren’t familiar with Serbian slang. We learned Serbian through my mom, and the only person we talk in Serbian to throughout the year is with my grandmother during our weekly phone calls. We learned how to speak Serbian by only listening to and talking to adults, and therefore we never picked up any of the slang that is popular among the youth in Serbia. Looking back at our conversations with our cousins, I’ve realized that we spent a significant amount of time asking what certain slang words they used meant, as well as them trying to clarify those slang words to us. Our conversations consisted mostly of talking about the Serbian language itself and what certain slang words mean, rather than actually talking about meaningful topics that could help us to get to know each other. My sister and I often didn’t understand their jokes seeing as a lot of them involved slang words, and eventually they stopped directing their jokes to us but rather with one another, because our reactions were often blank stares. Similarly, my sister and I started having more and more side conversations between just ourselves when in the presence of our cousins, because we found it awkward trying to have a conversation with them, seeing as it had failed so many times before. To this day, I feel like I barely know my cousins, and every time I see them it feels like we have to introduce ourselves to each other all over again.

I now strongly believe that if we understood Serbian slang, my sister and I would have been able to break through the barriers between us and our cousins a long time ago. We would be able to joke around using the same slang terms they do, we wouldn’t need to ask them to explain the slang words/phrases they use, and they wouldn’t hold anything back in fear that we wouldn’t understand what they are saying. Additionally, our conversations wouldn’t just stay at the surface, as if we were merely acquaintances rather than family. We never had an understanding for each other because our vocabularies for slang were drastically different. Now, I’m not saying that people who belong in different groups and who are familiar with particular slang can’t interact and having meaningful connections with people from other groups who have their own set of slang their familiar with. I just believe that it’s hard to fully understand each other, if we don’t have the same understanding of particular words and phrases. Perhaps this is why older generations are always talking down the slang that is used by the younger generations, simply because they don’t have an understanding of the slang they use. A common language between people is extremely important in order for cooperation, agreeability, and understanding, and without it, a significant disconnect can occur.

Works Cited

Adams, Michael. “Why Slang is Good for You.” Audio blog post. The Takeaway . Public Radio International, 26 Oct, 2012. Web. 1 Apr. 2018.

“Beef”. Urban Dictionary, www.urbandictionary.com. Accessed 31 Mar. 2018

Dumas, Bethany K., and Jonathan Lighter. “Is Slang a Word for Linguists?” American Speech , vol. 53, no. 1, 1978, pp. 5–17.

Fisher, Catherine Horne. “Let’s Talk it Over: Colloquial Language and Women’s Print Media Cultures in Australia, 1950–1966.” Outskirts 36 (2017): 1-18. ProQuest. 7 Mar. 2018.

Hess, Meagan. “About Slang.” Xroads.virginia.edu, May 2004. Accessed 7 March 2018.

Maurer, D.W. “Slang.” Encyclopedia Britannica I nc , 16 August, 2013. Web. 6 Mar. 2018.

“Modernity”. Dictionary.com Unabridged . Random House, Inc. Dictionary.com 7 Apr. 2018.

Radonjic Sabbagh, Ana. “Functions of Slang Survey.” Survey. 31 Mar. 2018.

Rosenberg, Sam. “New Slang: How Lit Was the Function.” Michigan Daily, 20 January 2016. Accessed 7 March 2018.

Scientific Bulletin “Mircea cel Batran” Naval Academy 18.2 (2015): 405-6. ProQuest. Web. 8 Mar. 2018.

“Seventies (70s) Culture.” Classic 70’s , www.classic70s.com/70s-culture.html.

Shmoop Editorial Team. “Society in The 1950s.” Shmoop . Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web.Accessed 26 Apr. 2018.

Sirbu, Anca. “The Significance of Language as a Tool of Communication.” Naval Academy Press: Constanta, Romania, 2015.

“Slang”. Collins English Dictionary – Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition . HarperCollins Publishers. Dictionary.com. Accessed 27 Apr. 2018

“Slang.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia . Wikimedia Foundation, The Free Encyclopedia, Accessed 6 Mar. 2018.

Snyder, Sharon. “Modernity.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica I nc, 20 May 2016. 1 April 2018

Wang, Yong. “Study on Campus Slang from the Perspective of Semiotics.” Theory and Practice in Language Studies 6.3 (2016): 642-7. ProQuest. Web. 8 Mar. 2018.

The Increasing Diversity of Slang and Its Effects Essay

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Origin of slang

The adoption of slang in society, perception of slang in society.

Current conversations are filled with linguistic differences that are characterized by unique speech and language patterns. Most of the unique utterances in casual conversations can be termed as slang. Slang is the term used by a majority of people in reference to poor grammar and choice of vocabulary. While it is easy to identify the application of informal language in other people’s conversations, studies suggest that most people actually use slang on a daily basis, since it is often considered part of the normal and accepted language. In addition, most people are quick to judge the use of slang by other people, yet they fail to contemplate how the society perceives their own use of slang, which they claim to be acceptable language, especially when used in a setting with diverse social backgrounds.

Besides the personal opinion of formal and informal dialect, slang is also a function of race, gender, income, and region, among other factors that influence and identify with societal and socioeconomic stereotypes. Each social group employs a certain type of slang, whereby all members of the group are able to identify with each other owing to their unique diction and grammar. Over the years, the popularity of slang as a defining trait has continued to grow. This diversity of language has, in turn, led to more bad than good, including heightened social and class separations.

Slang has its origins in social circles including cliques of minorities, teenagers, and soldiers. However, recent trends have indicated that slang is no longer limited to small groups, with some informal terms expanding across age groups and societies to become accepted as standard language. Some types of slang, like “y’ all” instead of “all of you” and “the bees knees” instead of “that’s great” have actually become fashionable in most South American social environs, and most people have become accustomed to hearing and using them in their daily conversations. Despite the adoption of some terms at societal level, the use of slang is yet to transcend geographical barriers. For instance, the use of the informal phrases provided earlier is acceptable in certain regions of America, though some sections of the US perceive it as uneducated and unacceptable.

The regional acceptance of slang can be attributed to the fact that it originates from a specific cultural or socioeconomic group, which makes it acceptable to that particular society, and not necessarily other areas. African-American diction, for instance, employs a certain kind of slang that is common in city areas. While African American linguistics has had a massive impact on contemporary conversational language, it is still not accepted by lots of communities. The use of words like “playa” to refer to men with multiple sexual partners, or “bitch” as a derogatory term for prostitutes is often considered improper in most scenarios for a majority of social circles. However, less offensive words like “ride”, “bling” and “holla” are often frowned upon by certain groups of people, terming them as uneducated and low-class.

Slang is most prevalent among the youth, especially teenagers, who freely include phrases like “dude” and “Let’s Bounce” in their day-to-day colloquial speech. While adolescents use their kind of slang to provide a sense of belonging, most adults and the media often mimic it and associate with immaturity, unintelligence, and irresponsibility. For adolescents, the use of slang words and phrases serves as an indicator of both knowhow and interest in a certain peer group, which provides them with a sense of social superiority and mutual acknowledgment. Much of the slang used by muddle-class white adolescents includes a blend of diction borrowed from African American speech and American west coast surfer.

On the surface, slang looks like an incredible language that is full of creativity and originality. However, all the words used in slang are deliberately borrowed from specific sources. For example, the slang used by American youth is consistent with the speech used by urban African Americans, which the former associate with masculinity and strength. Furthermore, American youth borrow some diction from the west cost to portray “coolness”, using words like “chill” and “like’. Youth is an incredible motivator for the development and growth of slang, not only as a way for their generation to be associated with a certain slang vocabulary, but also to rebuff the slang used by older generations as “uncool’ and outdated.

Studies suggest that people have the tendency to overlook their opinions regarding the use of some slang vocabulary, but have no way of ignoring its existence. This is because human beings tend to subject all words and phrases that they hear to extensive scrutiny, whether consciously or unconsciously, replaying them in their minds as they try to figure out whether those words are acceptable. Acceptability in this case refers to the level of comprehension offered by the new slang term, or the ease of integrating it in normal speech.

The main discrimination towards slang is attributed to decades of continuous association of slang with lazy, stupid and disrespectful talk; a notion that is ingrained in people’s minds from a young age, as both teachers and parents discourage children from incorporating slang in normal speech, and instead, encourage them to use proper grammar and mature social skills. Yet, people continue to use slang in informal and even formal conversations, mostly because it comprises shorter words that do not only sound witty when conversing with peers, but also provide a comfortable way of speaking.

Individuals tend to associate slang with their roots, peers and community, where they cultivate a sense of familiarity and attachment to the language. This makes it easy for them to easily associate with other people who use similar slang vocabulary. However, the harmony that grows within a certain community also tends to draw those members further away from other societies, which is the primary reason why slang is perceived negatively when it is not one’s own, or used in a different context than one is used to.

A common perception regarding slang is that it is an inferior form of speech with lower prestige compared to Standard English. Furthermore, slang is considered as one of the many features of individuals with low status and minimal power of responsibility. This perception spreads to the workplace, whereby people with a certain dialect are considered to be unintelligent and disrespectful. The situation becomes extremely detrimental when a person’s speech becomes a marker for their race and status, making prejudice a serious problem posed by the use of slang.

The truth about slang is that it is a feature of all socioeconomic backgrounds and regions. Slang is a fun way of communication, and it is unfortunate that it drives societies apart, much like people of a particular political or religious inclination tend to gravitate towards each other.

The Role of Media’s Influence
Formal Written English is disappearing
Standard and Non-Standard Types of the English Language
English Language Evolution
The Phonological Contrast Therapy Efficacy
Armenian Linguistic Community in Southern California
African Scam Letters' Linguistic Anthropology
Language Borrowing Definition
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

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Home / Essay Samples / Science / Language / Slang

Essays on Slang

The impact of slang on the english language.

Slang, characterized by informal and non-standard language usage, has a profound impact on the English language. This essay presents an argumentative analysis of how slang affects the English language. It explores the evolution of slang, its role in cultural expression and identity, its influence on...

Diversity of Slang: Embracing Linguistic Variation

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Spanish Slang and Its Role in Contemporary Communication

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Tracing the Evolution of the Filipino Language

The development of Filipino language has undergone a dynamic process that reflects the country's diverse cultural and historical influences. From the use of Tagalog, the country's official language, to the incorporation of Spanish, American, and other indigenous languages, the Filipino language continues to evolve with...

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