Rashida
Slang is like unofficial jargon that sometimes becomes official. We hear slang words and see them every day on social media, in conversations, everywhere.
When we hear a new slang word enter the chat, we often never bat an eyelash as to where it came from, but the origin of American slang words is fascinating. And important.
Humble Beginnings with Minority Groups
By the time slang blows up, it’s associated with young, hip people. However, the people most often using the slang are rarely the ones who invented or popularized it. While the exact origins of slang words can be hazy and hard to trace, there is a clear pattern: minority groups.
The “VISCO” girl laugh of 2019, sksksksksk, was seen as early as 2009 on Twitter among Portuguese-speaking Brazilians. In the 2010s, it was used in the UK, and by Black and gay communities on social media. However, most people had probably never heard of it until 2019 when it became associated with “stan” “VISCO girl” culture.
Most commonly, slang is started or brought to the light by a subculture, and then adopted by mainstream culture. Many slang words, especially of 2020, began with the Black and LGBTQ communities. Several of the slang words we use today are tied to the drag scene, especially the Black drag scene. One example is “and I oop” which is another stereotyped catchphrase of the VISCO girls, even though it began with a YouTube video from drag queen Jasmine Masters back in 2015. Dictionary.com has a slang dictionary where they explore the meanings and origins of slang words, but a few more examples of slang that came from Black and/or LGBTQ communities include:
- Bae
- Spilling the tee
- Yas kween
- Throw shade
- Trap/trap queen
- Squad
- Fleek
- Basic
- Turn Up
- Big Mood
- And many more
Is Slang Cultural Appropriation?
On one hand, Black slang and African American Vernacular English (AAVE) entering the mainstream can be seen as a positive. It’s a melding and embracing of ideas, and it offers proof that the English language is not rigid. But, on the other hand, it can feel a lot like cultural appropriation to the minorities that were reprimanded and condemned when using the slang first. The primary issue is that the etymology of slang words typically gets lost.
Many black people feel as though the mainstream loves Black culture, but not Black people, and that is where the frustration comes from. Similarly, some in the LGBTQ community are also frustrated that their slang taken by the mainstream is rooted in underground movements and lasting discrimination. Most slang words should not necessarily be reserved for a group of people, but it’s important to acknowledge their origins and think deeply about the misinformed judgments we can make of people who speak differently than us.
The Other Ways Slang Started
It’s crucial to acknowledge that a lot of American slang began with Black and LGBTQ minorities, but there are many origins for slang words. Some words or phrases appear in response to certain events, like “having a meltdown” around the advent of atomic power.
Fiction has also generated slang words. Shakespeare is a well-known example, as he added (or at least popularized) thousands of words and phrases into the English language, like admirable, dawn, hostile, lonely, all that glitters isn’t gold and fair play.
Interestingly enough, slang also circles back around, much like fashion. Some slang from eras past has become part of the English language, and some has repopularized. Describing money as “bread” and “chill” as relax are very popular terms used today that actually began as 1960s slang. From the 70s, we got “gross”, which is now part of the official language. And the list goes on.
Respect the Culture
AAVE and terms rooted in the LGBTQ community are often associated with “unwanted” parts of society, but they are “cool” when used by white people or corporations. This is the primary frustration that minorities have with their slang being absorbed by other communities. At the same time, language is a reflection of the connection and mingling between social groups. It’s important to understand and acknowledge the background of so many slang words we use today, and slang is really just the beginning of a larger conversation. Stay woke.
