ENGL300-1: Jodi Witthaus
ENGL300-2: Megan Abell
Due on: Wednesday, October 5th, 2011
The responses by the whole class are due by class time on: Friday, October 7th, 2011
The text you need to read is here.
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By Megan Abell
A Summary of "A 1925 Lesson in Slang"
After reading Clark's article, I disagree with her statement that many offensive words have disappeared. I would argue that slang words have a higher chance of being integrated that this article would suggest. Slang has always been presented to me as being negative. I learned at a young age that sland was something that was not tolerated in the classroom. Yet with age, I have realized that some slang is ingrained in the English lanuage and in the language of the classroom.
The teacher explains how both these excerpts were taken from thieves. Shakespeare utilized this language of thieves through the characters in his plays--his plays are renowned as high culture in modern-day society. This, in itself, contradicts the assertion that most slang disappears, as the language of Shakespeare has been integrated into contemporary society with words such as bedroom, swagger, and rant. However, the meaning of slang can still exist, even if it tries to disappear. Slang insinuates meaning where none exist. Slang is, in itself. a means for alternating meaning for those who are unable to understand a more formal language. This article expresses how the words of thieves are constantly slithering into our language, because slang was once the language of thieves. Therefore, any slang that society uses today is taken from its language. For example, the word "kids" was taken from the term "kidnap," which today is also known as "kidnap," and kidnapping is the action of "child stealing." The word "slang" comes from the old language of Scandinavia, which meant "to talk abusively."
This article continues on to express how offensive slang really is, and because of this, slang terms never stay in existence for very long. The students come to the conclusion that words only last if they are not offensive very long. For example, calling an insane asylum, a "bug house" is very offensive to anyone who may know somebody who has been legally defined as "insane;" and what is even more interesting is that the term "bug house" is very rarely used in today's society.
That being said, I do agree with the notion that modern slang is not appropriate for conversation in the classroom, because it has the potential to be offensive. By using the intellectual language, students can increase their vocabulary and thus encourage them to establish a professional standard. Yet, slang is a huge part of the language that is utilized and thus needs to be addressed (in some manner) withing the classroom. I did find the article interesting because society constantly uses terms without having a true understanding of the meaning of the words, which makes us slightly ambiguous when determing whether or not the world is offensive.
I did not know that so many words that we use today in every day language was once slang. I believe there is a difference in offensive slang and non offensive slang. Since this type of language is a part of our society, it must be taught in the classroom, in some way, but caution must be used. There is a lot of offensive slang out there and people do not understand that these words affect certain people in a negative manner.
ReplyDeleteSlang words are a very touchy subject when referring to the classroom, and for formal speaking for that matter. Slang, in my opinion, should be used explicitly for the purpose of talking among friends. I believe that slang, more times than naught, can be offensive to other people who aren't aware of the back story. I have always thought of slang to be somewhat of an 'inside joke' between a small group of people, and occasionally it catches on on a vaster scale.
ReplyDeleteI am really against the use of slang in classrooms. I truly believe that it is unprofessional and the classroom is not the place for it. Some slang language can be offensive and that in itself can cause a problem in the classroom. Academic language rarely offends students and that is one of its major purposes. Slang is a major part of the English language but hardly has a place in academia.
ReplyDeleteSlang can be offensive, and would probably be even more offensive if more people knew the origin of most slang words and phrases. Often we are clueless of what trendy slang words and phrases really mean (this article has some surprising examples.) For this reason, I think slang should not be used in the classroom or in formal conversation. Ideally, slang should be a casual thing among friends where all the slang is understood among the group. If it is brought up in class, it should be to make students aware of what they are saying, where it is appropriate, and what their slang might really be conveying to certain individuals.
ReplyDeleteSlang is a subject that has been widely criticized and debated about. Slang originally meant speaking to someone offensively. Slang has since been a method of including or excluding certain people from conversation. I disagree with the author. Slang is not offensive. There is a time and a place for slang. I don't believe that using slang in an academic setting is appropriate. If one does not fully understand slang then it can be offensive.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Slang: A lesson in Ninth-Grade Composition, seeing the relationship between modern day language and the language used by Shakespeare centuries ago is noticeably clear. Slang emerged as ways to outwit another bystander, but still keep the ability to communicate. In today’s society, I myself can agree with this statement. Accounting for the amount of language terminology I know: setting wise: home; school; work; etc: I can personally relate to using different words that are not the exact meaning, but known for other definitions. This is the induction of slang into modern English. Just as how it was once a thieves language, it has now thieved its way into modern language, with new modern words.
ReplyDeleteThere has been slang since the beginning of language. A Bees Clark goes into detail about slang during Shakespeare's time. It was a way thieves could communicate to one another without other people understanding. This brings up a question, is the true meaning of slang to send secret messages? Clark goes over many slang words and phrases that have obvious meaning, so in some cases that may not be true. When you look at slang used today it can be used to have a secretive conversation. If you use current and confusing slang chances are you could say something without your mom understanding you. One big thing this excerpt suggests is that slang words that are offensive are weeded out and those deemed acceptable by society may last. I think this is untrue. Many offensive words do not last long, but some do. Also, unoffensive slang can also out. I think the slang phrases used by Clark as examples are extremely interesting. I am sure everyone does because they sound flat out crazy and make no sense at first. Learning the etymology of the word "kid" shows how slang can evolve and last through generations.
ReplyDelete"Slang" is a very broad category. When determining whether or not a slang word is offensive, I think it greatly depends on the situation in which you are trying to use the word. While teachers need to keep a professional "distance" from their students, it is also important for the students to be able to relate to and to understand their teachers. In the past, I've had English teachers who say things like "Where does one go to dinner?"; my teachers' speech was proper that they was afraid to participate in class discussions because I felt like my vocabulary was inferior.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that slang words have disappeared over the years, but they have changed. I have several international friends who have a great desire to learn modern, American English slang and the context in which it is used. Understanding slang and ways of usage is an important principle of communication in any language.
I agree that slang words should be left out of the classroom so no one gets offended. Sometimes we say things without knowing what they actually mean, or where they came from, so it's important to keep this in mind when speaking in large groups. I was surprised to find out that a lot of the words that we use today were once referred to as slang. This shows how much our language has changed and that we are constantly coming up with new words and phrases.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize the amount of "slang" words that have been around for this long. I don't really believe that a classroom is the proper place to use slang, unless it is used sparingly and to make a point. I have had English and History teachers that would use certain phrases, "slang", colloquialisms, and curse words to make a point in a specific lecture. This was an effective use of slang, instead of always using it, and in turn losing your credibility as a teacher. Slang can be offensive, and before you do decide to use it, one needs to make sure that he or she is using it in the most effective and least offensive way.
ReplyDeleteI'm against any type of slang usage in the Classrooms because I feel that it is not appropriate for the particular setting. But i didn't know there could be such a thing as non offensive slang. I thought all slang language was offensive. It should never be used in the classrooms or in your English paper. Basically in a professional setting it should never be brought up. Its alright if you're just hanging out with your friends and you mention it. A lot of people may get offended by slang language.
ReplyDeleteI think that slang is very inappropriate and useless not only in the classroom, but in everyday situations. It is very offensive and disgrace to the English language. I don’t believe that there can be non-offensive slang. Most young adults and kids use slang these days, I feel that it just makes our generation look foolish.
ReplyDeleteThis article about slang was very interesting because it discussed the threads of different groups of people who would use different forms of slang, and why. When the teacher first asked the class why people used slang, one student said it was a means of expression. The teacher went further into this by describing the different people such as Lincoln, Shakespearian thieves, detectives, and others. This article goes on to explain the origin of slang and some of its mechanics, but I found the most impacting section to be at the beginning when the students are first attempting to get a grip on the concept of slang. Slang is a language because its purpose is to be understood by a specific group of people, either to convey a message, or to be separate from the average whole. Overall, I found this article very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI am very much interested in the genealogy of slang terms--and I'm incredibly shocked to find that the word "kids" comes from "kidnap". As to whether or not slang should be used in the classroom, I guess it depends on what kind of slang. Certainly there exists some offensive slang that would not be appropriate for classroom discussion. However, many famous authors and writers have employed slang (or in some cases, even invented words) to get a point across. Context is everything in terms of what would work and what wouldn't work regarding slang.
ReplyDeleteA. Bess Clark mentioned in her article “Slang: A Lesson in Ninth-Grade Composition” that slang was a way for thieves to contact each other without people understanding and interpreting their meanings. I know some slang words and I think I know what the underlying meanings are, but in reality half the time I have no clue. A. Bess Clark does mention that the offensive slang words die out while the un-offensive words stay. I disagree because I do believe some offensive slang words can still be heard today and will last for a while. I believe there is a right time and a wrong time to use slang, even if it is not offensive. In academics and the business world, you have to use proper English to make yourself admirable. The most interesting part of this article is how some of the words we use today came from slang, such as the word “kid.”
ReplyDeleteSlang will always be prevalent in our societies. Slang can be extremely offensive, as stated in the article, but it is normally used to help others understand what point the other person is trying to get across. I do not believe that slang is acceptable in formal settings, but it will always be in our culture.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how many words we use commonly today were or are still slang terms. With that being the case, I don't think slang will ever truly vanish. With words being integrated so easily, it can be hard to remember which words are considered slang and which are not. For example, I don't think the word "kid" or "kids" will ever go away because of how carelessly and frequently it is used. Although, I still can not accept slang being used in a formal setting such as a classroom or the work place.
ReplyDeleteThe article “Slang: A Lesson in Ninth-Grade Composition” was very interesting I really liked reading about the different groups of people who would use different forms of slang, and why. I was not aware of how long slang has been around, which just makes me believe it will always be apart of the English language. I don't believe the idea should be to completely remove slang from everyday use but just remove it from formal use. Overall I found this article an interesting read.
ReplyDeleteSlang is used by a lot of people. It can be used in good or bad content. I feel that slang is not bad, but it should be used in specific places. Also I feel that is not bad to use it in school or at work it just depends on who you are using it with. You probably would not want to use it towards your instructor or boss, but towards a peer or co- worker I feel that is fine. I feel that it should not be used in bad content either and that is at anytime. But slang has changed so much and there are so many words in the slang language I feel that it hard for some people to differentiate between between what is slang and what is not. I feel that this article is good because it shows the view of students and instructors.
ReplyDeleteSlang has been around for many years. When the teacher asked the students what slang is, they all brought up modern terms. However, slang has been around since Shakespeare's time. She also said that language lives to express thoughts. I also believe that slang can accomplish the same thing. However, slang will always change throughout the years, and always have different meanings during different periods of time. When she brought up some terms from the past, no one understood what she was talking about.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that using slang in a classroom is really that big of deal, as long as the whole class is comfortable with the use of slang. I'm not saying that slang would be appropriate in every classroom just some. The classes that are more laid back, I probably wouldn't use slang in an English class but in others I may. With this I believe that slang will always be around and there isn't much people can do about it so there is no point getting all up in arms about it.
ReplyDeleteI believe the use of slang in a classroom depends on the particular class. If it is an English class I think it is inappropriate. If it is a Physical Education class, depending no the slang I do not think it is an issue. I think slang should be used carefully even in a P.E. class because different cultures and different parts of the nation/world use the same slang for different meanings.
ReplyDeleteIt has become imparative that slang is now a small part of the classroom language. I believe that the variations of slang, However are very much different. If all teachers spoke proper English in the classroom I don't think that students would even know how to speak in anything but the proper form, because not only are they learning it, but they are hearing it as well.
ReplyDeleteIt surprises me that words that were once slang are now everyday words. Slang in my opinion is not as big of a deal as it once was in American culture. I believe it is becoming more acceptable. The question is, is if it is really that bad of a thing. It is just words and they still imply the same meaning.
ReplyDeleteThe article, "Slang: A Lesson in 9th-Grade Composition" by A. Bess Clark, taught me more than I originally knew about slang. This article explained the origin or slang and how it was used. Slang dates back to the Shakespearean era and was used by thieves who wanted to communicate but not be understood by others. Slang was originated to out wit others. The author goes on to explain the use of slang in today's society and in a school setting. I believe that there is a time and a place for slang and a school setting is not one of them. Slang in a school setting is inappropriate and hurtful.
ReplyDeleteThis article taught me a lot about slang. I do not think that slang is a huge issue. Slang is a part of our language, whether we like it or not. As far as slang in the classroom, I think that in some cases it would be appropriate to use slang in the classroom. Slang is something that is used often enough that some slang terms are part of our general language. Therefore, I do not think that it would be completely right to ban slang from the classroom altogether. In fact, it might be better to just embrace slang (as long as it is appropriate) rather than fight it, because in some cases it will be fighting a losing battle.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that many words we use today are actually slang and many don't know it. I never knew that "bedroom" was consider a to be slang.This article makes me wonder the amount of words that are slang and are now in the dictionary. Also, it makes me realize that slang changes language and whether we admit it or not our language will keep changing through time. As slang is being use more often people become more acceptable to it.
ReplyDeleteI think that slang can one day be the end of grammar. Everyday slang terms are being adopted into our vocabulary and our dictionaries daily. Now slang has crept into our classrooms and on our essays. The article taught me a lot regarding the origin and use of slang. I enjoyed reading the article.
ReplyDeleteSlang is a wonderful thing that will never go away. Many words that we use now are slang. Slang helps get a point of view or background of the person sometimes. Slang words often get put in the dictionary if people use them enough like "BLING". Words means change all the time like the word "fag" which has been changed many times. Fag used to be a cigarette, a bundle of sticks, and a homosexual male to name a few.
ReplyDeleteSlang will always have an affect on grammar. Regardless if it is a positive or negative affect, it will always be there and there is nothing that can stop that. People like "short-cuts" and "easy ways out" and that is what slang is to grammar. It is a short cut to words. People use that to communicate faster and easier. So unless people change and become less lazy (which would do good to the whole world) than slang will still be around. People need to learn proper grammar if they want to make it in the world and ignore the trend of slang.
ReplyDeleteI believe that slang will always have an affect on grammar whether its in a positive or negative manner. I believe that everyone catches him/herself using slang at some point but the most important factor is to know when to turn it on or off. Personally I believe slang is neither negative or positive but it depends on what you say. For example 'aint' . Ain't is slang for isn't. My grandmother has always taught me that "aint, aint a word so you aint gonna use it." With her guidance I have nevr had the desire to use ain't or other words of slang that are in place for the correct pronunciation of a word. However, slang words such as swagger, has changed over the years. I believe back then it could have meant a persons demeanor but today it means a style of dress. All in all, I personally rather not use slang because the more slang you use the easier it is to slip into the bad habit of using grammar incorrectly, but I don't believe all slang is bad.
ReplyDeleteI believe slang will never go away. As long as grammar is around slang will continue to live on. Slang has a negative eect on grammar as well as a positive. It gives people a relax way of conversating, but others are able to understand. When using slang for to long you may begin to forget correct grammar which isn't good, because correct grammar is used in the corporate word, and no one wants to hiring someone saying aint instead not.
ReplyDeleteThe subject of slang is very similar to that of texting slang when it comes an english discussion. The key is to know when it is appropriate to use. Slang should not be used in a formal setting but it will never go away. It defines a culture just as much as formal language does.
ReplyDelete