Your Words Are Not Your Own: Slang In The Study Of Social Interactions

‘Rizz’ was named the Oxford English Dictionary’s word of the year in 2023, definitely turning heads and piquing the interest of many. 

As per Oxford, this slang term was chosen “to reflect the ethos, mood or preoccupations” of the year, while also being a potential term of “lasting cultural significance.”¹

Our shock can be attested to the fact that we do not consider this vocabulary as part of traditional language, but seamlessly slip it into informal conversations.

Surveys point out how half of us have used such terms without knowing what they truly mean.² 

Putting it simply, yet quite intensely, the usage of such words involves multiple unconscious thought patterns and strips us down to as raw and human as we can be. As inherently social beings, slang is evidence of our desire for social affirmation. We unknowingly tap into ‘the chameleon effect’ or ‘code-switching’, which involves adopting accents and mannerisms tailored to those around us to foster emotional connection.³

Rewinding to the peak years of the COVID-19 pandemic, parents witnessed the unfathomable phenomenon of ‘Peppa Pig’ transforming their toddlers’ entire accents, vocal inflextion and vernacular. However, speech and linguist experts argue that reality is far less dramatic. Cartoons, especially at a time when they were their substitute for authentic interactions, served as reference groups for children, something to emulate.⁴ Audio-visual imagery puts forward language in a highly digestible manner, and they simply parrot what is presented to them.⁵ We may not know it, but we are bound to do the same thing the next time we go out and socialise.

Slang can be a peculiar but effective method of solidifying in-groups and out-groups. Akin to fleeting fashion trends, it becomes vital to keep up with the word-of-the-hour and use it aptly before it becomes outdated. To not use certain phrases, or worse, to misuse them, breeds assumptions of one’s detachment from popular media because they failed to tick this particular checkbox.

This can be connected to masking or camouflaging, a technique often used by those with autism, ADHD or other mental health conditions in order to blend in with the largely neurotypical world. They may use this technique as they find themselves constantly at odds with societal norms, despite the intense psychological turmoil and exhaustion it inflicts on them.⁶

Interestingly, some of the first known uses of slang can be traced back to subversive or criminal groups, or any marginalised subsections of society with little political power. We now know that the term ‘uptight’, for instance, was first used by criminal narcotic addicts to describe the distress that accompanies withdrawal when drugs are denied.⁷ For such groups, slang has a dual purpose- it is a glue that binds them together and a shield that defines boundaries.⁸ The secrecy and structural strength of subcultures determine the possibility of its ‘leakage’. 

Speaking of those with little real power, but bold opinions, slang is most often cultivated among adolescents and young adults. They actively challenge the status quo yet do not have the ability to shape it. Generation Z, with a notably lower probability of reporting positive mental health,⁹ have developed slang laden with negative connotations that hint at their nihilistic outlook, such as ‘bedrotting’ or ‘doomscrolling’. But this also sheds light on their authentic and straightforward nature as they steer clear of sugarcoating or toxic optimism. On the other hand, the dynamic, exuberant 1920s showcased a spike in consumerism and mass entertainment¹⁰ and invented ‘bee’s knees’ or ‘heebie-jeebies’- phrases with a positive lilt.¹¹ Diving deep into the history of slang, the 1990s tell us a story of deception. These years were marked by a particular rise in the ‘grunge movement’, with bands like Nirvana influencing a generation of flannel-wearing children. However, the media’s shallow fascination with the same was met with revenge. Fake slang, including ‘fuzz’ or ‘wack slacks’ became T-shirt typography as the gullible masses played into this hoax.¹²

Aside from aiding us while we sift through various epochs, slang creates concrete cultural territories. A person with obsessive interests or hyper fixations might be known as a ‘nerd’ in the United States but as ‘otaku’ in Japan.¹³ While many terms are specific to geographical areas, when we look at subcultures, ‘periodt’ or ‘tea’ are some words derived from drag-queen. These can be traced back further to African American Vernacular English. The mass circulation of AAVE terms online can spread the false idea that they are synonymous with internet slang. When even notable brands comment ‘it’s giving’ on a TikTok post, the line between appreciation and appropriation grows blurrier by the day.¹⁴ We can no longer distinguish between those who coined these words and those who disseminated them. They have lost their esoteric nature.

Slang terminology often does not remain in circulation for long, becoming obsolete within a few years and leaving only a few phrases to be solidified into standard language. When these phrases seep beyond their original creators, for whom they signalled solidarity, it can be tremendously hurtful- but for those who merely add it to their existing plethora of ‘internet slang’, it is a momentary excitement. Mass media has heavily shaped the nature of slang- it is no longer a distinct identifying feature but a form of public currency. 

With our lives and conversations rapidly becoming limited to little metal boxes in sheltered homes, even the grammar and punctuation of text messages support slang in developing a set of ‘online social cues’. Simple periods at the end of sentences are perceived as formality bordering on passive aggressiveness and are instead replaced with message breaks.¹⁵ It is almost comical to note how bursts of short texts reflect our equally shortened attention spans. The excessive use of ellipses is understood as ominous by one generation but an unconscious attempt to save space out of habit by another.¹⁶ Gretchen McCulloch, linguist and author of “Because internet,” brings up “typographical tone of voice,” which explores the concept of typing in all caps being seen as yelling and lowercase typography indicating sarcasm.¹⁵

Slang has multiple critics. Many see it as an incoherent or impassionate language unfit for most settings.¹⁷ Some argue that it makes existing stereotypes more concrete. Others comment on its ability to create rifts in communication due to cultural differences. The overuse of slang can contribute to building quick yet shallow connections, as its usage is no longer indicative of one’s identity. It is flawed and not always reliable, which has been made evident in the past. 

As slang scholar Jonathon Green puts it, “It doesn’t exist until people see it”⁸- this colloquial language may be too embedded into our society today for us to realise the evolving yet powerful instrument it is. It highlights the unchanging nature of humans, contradictory to its transience. It condenses a multitude of emotions into a few simple phrases. It is a window into a different time, a flexible tool for understanding the values that define subgroups and timelines.¹⁸ 

Additionally, linguist and lexicographer Ben Zimmer emphasises how notorious slang phrases can be when they need to be historically tracked, for they are prone to fading or distortion before they even get written down and recorded.⁸ 

Perhaps crowdsourcing and adding such words to definitive dictionaries appears far more sensible now.