Slang Of The 20th Century
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Transcript of Slang Of The 20th Century
Slang of the 20th Century:From Flappers to Rappers
(From Tom Dalzell’s Book)
Alan D. DeSantis
Some Opening Notes:
• A) Slang changes quickly– 10% retention rate every 10 years (Eble, 1987)
• B) But slang is reincarnated over and over again– The same terms are seen every generation– Often w/ different meanings (drag, fat, bimbo)
• C) Used almost exclusively by the young• D) Every generation “slangs” what is important to them
– Studying their slang is a way to understand a generation
Some Opening Notes:
• E) Why is slang used?–1) It conceals meaning from parents
• But do kids use slang in front of them?–2) It identifies you as part of the tribe–3) It defies authority (talking like a rebel)–4) It makes one feel special & important–5) It excludes other peer groups
Let’s Test Your Knowledge of Slang
• Use the open spaces in your workbook– Or number your paper from 1 through 21.
• For each question, give me your best guess.• At the end of class, we will award the
Championship to the “Hippest Cat!”• No Cheating!!
I. From 1900-1919• Before the end of WWI (1919) there was little use
of slang– Why: Mass media was not a “national” phenomenon
• Terms could not be shared or spread by the youth culture
• College students used slang “locally”– At UK, we have: Ho, POT, the Keys
• But there was one NATIONAL exception . . .
I. From 1900-1919
• 1) 23 Skidoo – Three meanings: OK, Good, See You Later– This was the 1st National Slang Term (1905)
II. 1920-30s: From Flappers to Jazz• 1920s captured by F. Scott Fitzgerald
– Times were good and decadent• The early 30s were depression years
– Times were tough• The late 30s were swing and big-band
jazz (the gangster rap of the age)
– Strong slang influence from blacks culture
II. 1920-30s: From Flappers to Jazz• 2) Half-cut, fried, jammed, juiced, pie-eyed, polluted,
plastered, shot, tanked– Drunk (most popular reference of the age)
• 3) Bat, brawl, buzz, rag, toot, wrestle, egg harbor– A dance party
• 4) 5 Things: Gob stick, dog house, gobble pipe, skins, git box– Instruments: clarinet, bass, sax, drums, guitar
• If you got all 3, you are swanky or tasty
III. 1940s: From the War to Babies • 1941-45 saw WWII
– Much slang was based on male war interactions• After the war, America experience good times
– “Happy Days Are Here Again” #1 Song• They seemed to name everything
– Not many stayed around
III. 1940s: From the War to Babies• 5) Drooly, pappy, swoony, BTO, PC,
– An attractive man (big-time operator, prince charming)• 6) 5 Things: Moss, blinkers, flops, schnozz, pillars
– Body Parts: Hair, eyes, ears, nose, legs• 7) Fatal pill, go-away kiss, lead pill, check out, blotto, in
the drink – WWII Terms: Bullets and dying
• If you got these 3, you are a real hep cat (most popular term)
IV. 1950s: From Cool to Beat• 1950s were “Happy Days,” at least on the surface
– But there were always Fonzies• Young were restless (rejection of parents)
– Salinger’s Catcher, Brando’s Wild One, Dean’s Rebel, & Elvis’ Jailhouse Rock
• The Beatnick movement also exploded– Wore black, drank coffee, & read poetry– Terms: Hipster, like, daddy-o, cat, & dig
IV. 1950s: From Cool to Beat• 8) Bad news, beast, bomb, hack, kemp, wedge
– Cars & Hot Rods (many terms)• 9) Cut the grass, don’t tense, fade out, get bent
– Insults: Shut up, take it easy, disappear, I hate you• 10) Squaresville, deadsville, dullsville
– A bad place to be• If you got all 3, you are cool (#1), creamy, fat, mad,
hairy
V. 1960’s: From Surf to Dope• Breaking away from the conservative 50s• Rock Peaked:
– Motown, British Invasion, Acid Rock, Hippie Rock, folk, & Woodstock
• It was the most politically active & individually expressive decade of the Century– Anti-Vietnam, Feminism, Civil Rights, Free Love,
Free Speech, Black Power, etc.
V. 1960’s: From Surf to Dope
• 11) Barf, blow, beets, flash, heave, ralph, – To get sick
• 12) Category: Hang ten, stoked, bitchin, dude, bro– Surf Terms
• 13) Reefer, gage, mary jane, spliff, jay, doobie, roach– Marijuana
• If you got all 3, you’re bad, boss, freak, suave
VI. 1970-80s: From Disco to New Wave
• 70s and 80s share a lot in common• Politically inactive, pop-culture driven, no
wars, no meaningful direction– Called the “Me Generation”
• Really big with 1 or 2 word exclamations!!– Basic! (right) Be real!, Bite me!, Cool Beans!, Eat
me!, Go for it! H0! (great), Heard that!, Not!
VI. 1970-80s: From Disco to New Wave• 14) Boff, boink, grind, do the nasty, deed, or wild thing
– Sex• 15) To chill, hang, veg, jell, kick it, ease
– To do nothing• 16) Category: Fer sure, Tscha, grody, totally, to the max
– Valley girl: “Gag me with a spoon”• If you missed these, you are beat, gnarly, harsh, heinous
VII. 1990-2000: Your Generation
• Times have been good– Strong economy, no world wars, high college
rates• Three Major Influences
– Pop culture (TV & Movies)– Computers/Technology– Hip Hop
VII. 1990-2000: Your Generation• 17) Biscuit, burner, heater, joint, steel, toast
– Guns• 18) Category: Later, Peace Out, “How you doin’,” “Wha’s up”
– Greetings• 19) Bones, Franklins, G’s, jacks, yard, clout
– Money• 20) Break, bust, chat, comp, freestyle, kick, rip
– Rap or sing• 21) Been there, done that; outta my way man; cowabunga; hurl; take a pill; babe-
osity; Not!; schwing; party on!– Bart & Wayne (pop culture icons)
• If you got all 5, you are “Phat,” “Tight,” or “the Bomb”
Closing Thoughts
• A) Many words are cyclical and reincarnated– 1930’s gave us:
• Suck, sweet, mellow, not!– 1940’s gave us:
• Brutal, cap, fly, scrub, tasty, groovy – 1950’s gave us:
• Clue, hang, kill, nerd, trip, turn on– All have been reincarnated at least 3 times– Thus, each generation is not as innovative as they think
Closing Thoughts• B. Every generation “slangs” the same 8 things
– 1) girls/guys – 2) drinking
• In 1737, Ben Franklin counted 228 terms for drunkenness (1st slang list)
– 3) greetings– 4) sex– 5) popular people– 6) unpopular people– 7) money– 8) homosexuals
• Are these the most important topics for the young?• Looks like you, your parents, & your grandparents were not that
different after all
Closing Thoughts• C. What causes “slang” to change?• Answer: When mainstream America starts using it!
– Why Hip-Hop vocabulary changes so quickly
• D. Slang is here to stay– And NO, you will not understand the next
generation– Isn’t that the point of slang?!
Later Dudes!