Time and a Place, Innit?

   Shakespeare’s slang was seen as innovative and clever, but today’s ‘TeenSpeak’ has been receiving a bad review. With the youth struggling to put a sentence together without the use of slang, the older generations have their concerns for our great English language.  

  The Oscar winning actress, Emma Thompson has recently waged war against ‘TeenSpeak’, following a visit to her old school. Where she was driven ‘insane’ by an increase in sloppy English and slang.  She said: “I told them, 'Just don't do it. Because it makes you sound stupid and you're not stupid."

   Having an English teacher as a parent, I was raised to talk properly and to leave out the “innits” and “minging.” And although I am barely out of my teen years I find poor English just as annoying as Ms Thompson. I have even begun to delete people from my Facebook account for their barrage of comments and status’ that take longer to translate than it is worth. My main irritation is when people use words or phrases that are equal to or longer than the proper vernacular, for example "woz" instead of “was.” This poor English is spreading fast, thanks to the web and mass media. Text language has become a part of everyday life, with programmes like ‘Gossip Girl’ celebrating it.

    Some argue that slang demonstrates inventiveness and quickness of thought and it cannot be ignored that Britain's top writers have been playing with slang for centuries. In the process, they have helped to add thousands of new words to our vocabulary. Shakespeare helped popularise slang words such as nervy, rancorous, puke, assassination and sanctimonious. Slang is seen to many as a progression of our language and The British Library seems to agree, with its upcoming exhibition on Evolving English. Slang can also be seen as a sophisticated attempt to communicate in a semi-private language, only a step removed from Wittgenstein's "private language". Children use it to exclude adults and include their friends, all groups generate their own language to some extent.

    However, Slang alone will never be enough. Although it may bring interest and a youthful edge to your work or speech, it must be mixed with proper English to avoid looking foolish. It seems now though that young people are increasingly unable to establish when the use of slang is appropriate. The youth of today is leaving school ill-equipped to communicate in the wider world. Recent research revealed that some teenagers are becoming unemployable because of a limited a working vocabulary of only 800 words, consisting of made-up words and ‘teenspeak’. This laziness of speech leaves the prospective candidate looking illiterate and dim.

     Emma Thompson said: “There is the necessity to have two languages - one that you use with your mates and the other that you need in any official capacity." And I must agree. Everyone should know how important it is to spot when slang is inappropriate.  Of course, there is a place for modern slang. Language, by nature, is dynamic and it should not always be formal. Intelligent communication requires adjustment of speaking style according to the situation.

Conclusion : Keep slang out of da workplace an in de yard.