LECTURE READY 2 - 9/1 || Handsome English

Summary

This video explores the concept of slang, specifically focusing on slang in American English. It defines slang as informal, new words or phrases often originating from specific societal groups, especially youth. The video covers reasons for using slang, such as building group identity and being playful or casual. It explains how slang evolves, including repurposing old words, creating new ones, or borrowing from other languages. The video also highlights regional and occupational slang differences and addresses the controversy surrounding slang's impact on language, especially in formal settings.

Takeaways

• 🆕 Slang refers to new and informal words or phrases, often created by specific groups within society.
• 👥 People use slang to feel connected and to show group identity, similar to how friends use a shared language.
• 🎉 Slang can be used to express excitement or emotion in playful, casual, or even offensive ways, depending on context.
• 🗣️ One reason for using slang is to be friendly, casual, and to make speech more colorful or impactful.
• 📚 Slang is often created by taking old words and giving them new meanings, such as the word 'wired' meaning overly excited.
• 🆕 New slang words can be invented by subcultures, like 'bling-bling' from hip-hop, which means shiny jewelry.
• 🌍 Slang can also be borrowed from other languages or cultures, adding diversity to the slang used in a region.
• 🌎 Slang varies by region and occupation; for example, 'y'all' in the southern U.S. vs. 'what's up' in California.
• 📝 Not everyone views slang positively—some believe excessive use of slang could erode the proper use of English.
• 🖋️ Slang is generally seen as too informal for academic writing or formal speeches, despite its prevalence in spoken language.

Q & A

What is slang, according to the video?

Slang refers to new and informal words or phrases that often originate from different groups within society.

Why do people use slang?

People use slang for various reasons, such as to feel connected to a peer group, to be friendly and casual, and to make their speech more colorful or create a certain impression.

How does slang help in group identity?

Slang helps in group identity by allowing people, especially friends or those who spend a lot of time together, to develop their own language, showing they belong to the same group, similar to wearing matching jackets.

What are the three main ways slang is created?

Slang is created in three main ways: (1) by giving old words new meanings, (2) by creating entirely new words, often from subcultures, and (3) by borrowing words from other languages or cultures.

Can you give an example of slang created from an old word?

An example is the word 'wired,' which originally referred to electrical wires but in slang means feeling overly excited or jittery, often from too much coffee.

What is an example of a new slang word created from subcultures?

The slang word 'bling-bling,' which means shiny jewelry, originated from hip-hop culture and became widely used, especially among young people.

How does borrowing from other languages influence American slang?

American slang incorporates hundreds of words from the languages of immigrants, such as German, Italian, and Chinese, reflecting the diversity of the U.S. population.

How do region and occupation influence slang usage?

Regional slang varies depending on where someone is from (e.g., 'hey y'all' in the South vs. 'what's up guys' in California), while occupational slang often spreads from specific jobs to general society.

Why is slang sometimes considered controversial?

Slang is controversial because it often breaks traditional grammar rules, and some people worry that excessive slang usage could harm the English language. It's also viewed as inappropriate in formal contexts like speeches or academic writing.

What is the overall point about the evolving nature of language made at the end of the video?

The video concludes by emphasizing that languages are living, evolving entities. New slang helps languages grow and change, keeping them dynamic and adaptable.