Speaking Slang, a Piece of Cake - Essay Example

Speaking Slang, a Piece of Cake People use slang words and phrases regularly, usually without realizing it and seldom knowing where and how the term originated. Many times the slang term originally carried a derogatory meaning but is now used freely in everyday language such as Washington ‘Redskins,’ a term still thought of as offensive by many yet used widely by the team, sportscasters, television shows and the NFL. Slang is an indelible part of the language. Some say it’s a colorful way to ‘dress up’ conversation while others such as me think its use is a lazy alternative to clearly articulating thoughts. Slang words and expressions can identify the probable decade a person attended high school such as ‘far-out’ and ‘gag me with a spoon,’ terms clearly identifiable with the 1970’s and 80’s, respectively. Slang words can also give clues to the region of the country a person was raised. If someone says they are ‘walking (or standing) in tall cotton’ they are experiencing good fortune and very likely from the southern U.S. ‘And so it goes,’ slang words are often used but seldom analyzed so let’s ‘get to it.’ The dictionary defines slang as, in part, a short-lived term, a figure of speech deliberately used in casual conversation, as opposed to formal or business dialogue. Its use, according to the dictionary is, to add humor, raciness or irreverence, or “other effect.” This is a ‘short-sighted’ and inadequate explanation that doesn’t ‘hit the mark.’ Slang words often are long-lived, which is ‘cool,’ - a 40’s origination that lives on today and likely will for another hundred years. It also seems slang is not typically used deliberately. Usually, slang words are spoken or typed without realizing it. Most people would be surprised to discover how much slang they use in a typical essay, for example. Finally, slang words may have been added for humor or ‘shock value’ initially but as time passes are used as everyday speech with no such motive. Now, let’s get off the ‘soapbox’ and ‘get on with it’ because we’re ‘all about that.’ ‘All.’ ‘I’m all excited.’ ‘Don’t get all mad.’ She’s ‘all that.’ ‘All’ replace the word ‘very’ and ‘so’ in the first two sentences. The third is an expression unto itself, a contraction of the 1990’s ‘she’s all that and a bag of chips’ expression. It’s one of those terms you seem to only hear on reruns and never heard said by anyone in person. It’s been said that ‘groovy’ is another such slang word. ‘All that’ begs the question, ‘all what.’ If she’s really ‘all’ that then why do we need to ‘throw in’ potato chips ‘on the side’ and why would a pretty/talented/smart woman be associated with an unhealthy snack food? When a woman is the object of admiration, it doesn’t seem too much to ask to talk about her actual qualities. ‘All’ reminds me of the incredibly, nauseatingly used word ‘actually.’ All is a word that can usually be dropped from a sentence – ‘don’t get mad,’ ‘I’m excited.’ Actually, actually doesn’t actually need to be used at all, no actually. A slang term used to describe an attractive woman in the 1920’s has enjoyed a rebirth of sorts. ‘Hotsy-totsy’ was lost for generations, a shame because it’s so colorful, poetic and very skillful at objectifying women, which is the objective. This swinging term arose from the linguistic ashes to become ‘hot’ in the 90’s then was popularized by Paris Hilton the next decade. ‘Hot,’ unlike many others is a lasting slang term. It’s easy and the connotation is universally accepted. You’d think ‘cool’ would mean the opposite of ‘hot’ but the combination implies the perfect girl, both cool and hot. I and many millions of my closest friends have greatly overused both terms. How about a new term for a girl who has a great personality, ‘cool,’ and is physically attractive, ‘hot;’ - ‘icy hot?’ Doesn’t work because ‘icy’ carries a negative connotation such as in ‘ice queen,’ which is a girl who is stand-offish or just doesn’t want to be ‘around’ you so she must be somehow flawed. Another 20’s slang term, ‘snootful’ is still heard today though infrequently. There are more than several words to describe ‘drunk’ which itself is a slang word. We’ve all used and or heard synonyms for inebriated such as ‘blasted, tipsy, stewed, hammered, buzzed, lubricated, crocked, loaded, plastered sauced,’ etc. to infinity. The British use the word ‘pissed’ as slang for drunk, ‘fag’ for cigarette and ‘knocked-up’ for being woken up. In America those terms have entirely different meanings. ‘Randy’ is a noun in America, a verb in England although ‘feeling Randy’ means pretty much the same thing, accidentally. The words ‘juiced, ‘amped-up’ and ‘fired-up’ sound to the initiated to be words associated with the death penalty or something you might not want to experience. However, you’d use these words to describe your emotions when you’re ‘stoked, hyped, psyched, jacked, wired, juiced, pumped, primed, jazzed and/or chomping at the bit.’ Haven’t heard ‘chomping at the bit’ used very much outside of maybe a character on an old western sporting few teeth and high-pitched western style drawl. Obviously a pre-turn-of-the-Century horse-related term although why a horse would chomp on its bit is puzzling to a non-horse person. ‘Spitting the bit,’ however, is understandable. It means, “I’m done with this,’ whatever ‘this’ might be. Today the slang phrase may be expressed as I’m ‘outa here’ or another, less congenial one that should not be in print, at least not in this context. ‘Awesome’ is seldom so. It is derived from the term awe-struck meaning, loosely, something uniquely remarkable, an indescribably impressive phenomenon. Today, this previously legitimate term, which was not made-up or contracted as many other slang words are, has been relegated to jargon. It has been overused so much the meaning has been watered-down to something like ‘better than mediocre.’ ‘Awesome’ is a word that should be preserved for awesome events, a simple yet overlooked concept. I get mad at myself when it ‘slips out’ of my mouth. When someone says ‘that was awesome,’ it was ‘killer,’ it was probably neither. Shouldn’t the slang phrase ‘I’m beat’ mean ‘take me to the hospital’ instead of ‘I need a nap?’ I’m ‘behind bars’ doesn’t mean look for me outside the saloon. It means I’m in the ‘slammer,’ come ‘spring’ me. That’s ‘sweet’ is more likely to refer to a car or discovering a best friend ‘scored’ tickets for the concert/game/play than for expressing the sugary taste of a food. It used to be slang for pretty girl ‘Ain’t She Sweet’ or a state of mind ‘How sweet it is’ in the mid-1900’s. It makes sense, though. Sweet typically describes something tasty and/or pleasing. Sweet can be an action as in ‘that was so sweet of them to invite us.’ Like ‘hot,’ ‘sweet’ is easy and quick to say. I’m sure both will be used in place of the proper term forever. Slang can be clever sayings such as ‘bustin’ a move’ or ‘between a rock and a hard place.’ Slang can also be annoying, repetitive and inaccurate. A person who avoids slang is perceived more intelligent and/or more educated than someone who can’t find their own words to describe an event or thought. To curb slang over-usage it is suggested a person slow down when speaking and think of more descriptive terms. At first this method also makes the person seem a ‘little slow’ but the overuse of slang slows one’s progress in both business and social settings. Works Cited “15 Old-Timey Slang Words We Should Bring Back Immediately.” Buzzfeed. Heaney, Katie Web. 2013 “American Slang” Infosquares Web 2013. “Slang.” American Heritage Dictionary Web 2013. Read More