Vocabulary is important. I once dated a guy who described everything from toothbrushes to toddlers as
Ok – I cant resist. When I am talking to the kids I say “dude” alot. Im also a big fan of “cool” and I do overuse “awesome” – even when talking with grown-ups. I guess thats because of the mainstreaming of the vernacular. But I can’t go too far on the surfer language spectrum. I can’t say “gnarly” becuase it makes me feel like I’m trying way too hard way. That also includes any words that sound bad but mean good — like “bad” or “wicked”. Sick, awesome post.
I only use “Dude” to refer to our eight year old, Noah and Chase’s cousin, Sam. (a/k/a Bubba). New England-speak requires the doubling of such vocabulary words to emphasize the importance of a person, place or event. For example, when referring to the Red Sox: “Did you see Papi’s homah? It was wicked-ahhsome”! Or the after effects of a Nor’Easter: “No School! Wicked-excellent!” “Cool”, is typically used alone. In New England-speak this may refer to lesser exploits of non-New England sports teams or non-regional events. For example: “The Yankees are in last place. Cool.”
I like using any and all words that reaffirm to young people that I am hopelessly old and out of touch. In fact, the more inappropriately used or out-of-date the better. The whipper-snappers feel secure that their encrypted codes have not been broken and that there is indeed order to their universe. Instead of being repelled by my pseudo-hipness they relax their guard (‘the old one is not a threat, let him go’). With the lines of demarcation firmly in place and the universe spinning as it should I can totter off peacefully to my gin and tonic and a nap on the couch.
I am actually enjoying being an uncool mom these days. There is something safe and refreshing about knowing that no matter what I do or say, I am uncool to my kids. What is harder for me is to listen to Woodstock era talk and remember how cool I used to think I was, and actually how cool I still think the styles of that era are today. I still think Dylan rocks! So you see, I can try using some of their words, but I admit “awesome” has always had a certain dumb jock tinge to it for me, so I have never been tempted to try it.
The problematic word for me is “sucks.” I don’t understand how it flows off their lips so easily. Is it considered a curse word in their speak or not? I can’t figure it out. It may be that my mother cured me of using the word years ago when after hearing me use it she said, “Caroline, do you know what that means? That describes the act of fellatio.” To this day, I can’t say it or hear that phrase without thinking literally about it, and it always makes me really uncomfortable. By the way, was she right? Do you think it would surprise the kids if we said that to them, or would they say, of course it does, dummy.
Caroline, I think there may some vague awareness about what “suck” originally referred to, but it’s fading from consciousness. I remember 20 years ago when a friend referred to someone as a “scumbag” in front of her father, and he went ballistic – becuase to him it meant “used condom.” To us it just meant “lowlife.” The English language is always changing and sometimes original meanings are lost to the sands of time. Which is a good thing in the case of “suck.” I think that one is here to stay.
Words – lots of them. But what makes me feel out of it are the gadgets. Everybody but me has the iPod. They play Grand Theft Auto, steering cars with x y keys. Never will I sport a Bluetooth gizmo in my ear. Johnathan Franzen wrote an essay where he goes to the Tool Museum in the Mercer Tile Works, sees a rotary dial phone atop 8 tracks. Title “Obsolete Technology”. He takes umbrage, as he clings to his 6 pound bakelite rotary phone. Makes one nostaglic for the party line. Jim
Growing up in the 50′s/60′s..my Mom would not let me say ‘crud or dang’..okay..so today I told my sister..who is 64 that something ‘sucked’..she primly reminded me not to say that word. Dang it.
Funny you mention ‘dang.’ Saying Dang It is one of Malcolm’s catchphrases – so much so that his 5th grade class voted to put it on the T-shirts they were making. However, a couple of moms objected so now the shirts say D-I.
Oh my! Jim’s post made me laugh and laugh! Great idea for a discussion, Jennifer, as there is such a line of demarcation when one ceases using the latest slang. I, like Jim, love using arcane slang. I prefer to say Right On! and Solid (sporting the Black Panther fist), call people pal-y, and I especially love the word ‘weirdsmobile’ which I picked up from Bing Crosby in White Christmas. I can’t say dude, do the knuckle knock or wear pants with ‘Juicy’ splashed across my ass. And, since living in New England, I love to use the phrases wicked awesome and, of course, wicked pissah. When I lived in the Philadelphia area I loathed the words ‘hoagie’ and ‘yo’ and would never let them cross my lips. And while I still find ‘hoagie’ unbearably ugly, I’ve found I now frequently say ‘yo’. Yo, whassup wi dat?
I, too, hate the word “amazing” for all the reasons you sited. Glad to know I’m not the only one. My dad — who is 60 — has started saying “that’s cool” in recent years, which always sounds a little bizarre to me.
If you’ve ever heard of the comedian Eddie Izzard (English, very funny, literate, and until recently a transvestite — I’m sure Ian would be familiar — all the jrs. are), he has a whole bit in his show, Glorious, about how we now use “awesome” for things like hot dogs and thus it has no meaning.
Literally is peppered into my daughter’s speech without regard to it’s literal meaning, but the words I won’t say are “crispy,” (as crisp covers it quite nicely) and “yaddy-yaddy-yaddy.”
I am vastly irritated these days by the girls (ours) using text speak. OMG, IDK. I was trying to figure out what was so irritating, though and I think it’s just the laziness of it. Responding to me with letters lets them off the hook to create thoughtful statements, and leaves me ill-informed about their feelings… except that they don’t feel highly enough of me to use complete sentences. Sigh.
Our Mother loved female comedians, Carol Burnett and Erma Bombeck. One of Erma’s chapters dealt with mysterious family sayings, so dense that no one, probably including the author, could figure them out. Her favorite was “I never got a watch till I was 12!”
I have a couple of these from my experiences.
Skiing Colorado one year, mid 90s. We would gang up to share on gas and lodging expense. Along on this trip was a notorious cheapskate, John. He would buy a new parka every year! From Bargain Barn! Lots of neon! Construction so shoddy insulation would start leaking from the seams after a few falls. He also sported rear entry boots, long after their heyday.
My technique was improving this year, thanks to new equipment. Shaped skiis had just come out. Watching John flounder down the hill, I think out loud.
“Buy some new boots John! You’re so cheap!”
“I am Not! My boat cost more than your house!”
“I don’t see your boat out here.”
“Well I don’t see your house out here either!”
Fast forward to Oct 07. Just returned from Moab, where a different group rides mountain bikes. One of my favorite trails is Porqupine Rim. This is a 5 mile climb to the Rim – cliff edge of Castle Valley – followed by 12 mile singletrack up and over a saddle or ridge, thru scrub pine forest, down and up ravines, finally down into Jackass Canyon and out at the Colorado River. Very gnarly, very fast, very rocky and rough. Lots of double diamond spots which translate to skiing double diamonds – expert only. Ridden this trail a dozen times, with all kinds of good riders. Once I followed a blood trail down, one of my friends had crashed and bled for the next 5 miles down, then got in a race with a cocky girl rider on his way to the hospital – another 5 miles on the hiway back to town. 50 stiches in his lip. Even this guy won’t ride 3-4 foot drops on the trail. Everybody dabs on these. A dab is uncleating from pedal, jump off and walk down obstacle or tripod. Tripod is to stay on bike, put a foot down on uphill side and ride – if possible – on a sideways attack, like a traverse on the ski slope.
This year I came up on 3 French kids, 2 boys and a girl, in their early 20s. They had a straggler, so we would pass each other. By doing so I observed their technique on the giant drops. Fearlessly they would accelerate to the edge, bunny hop off and control their crash landing! Then they would regroup and chat in French, German or flawless English. Naturally they rode, no dabbing, the extra scary stuff where you are right on the edge of a ravine, blind curves, etc.
Being inspired, I tell Jennifer “I want to learn how to ride like that!”
“Jim! They are half your age! And besides, were they attractive?”
Speaking of attractive, I forgot to tell the Frogs I was mad at them for not electing Sevigne Royal as their President.
Jim
The Beautifully Spoken English Language That I Once Knew
By D.K. Milgrim-Heath©2010
The beautifully spoken English language that I once knew-
From my 1950’s/1960’s childhood has became slanged for all of you.
Daily words change constantly that I don’t understand-
So one has to get new word definitions really on command!
My 3 children have found the need to really explain –
Hip Hop’s meanings by mainstreamed definitions they pertain.
When one’s a foreigner learning to speak English to communicate-
Never do you find Hip hop speak words in grammar books I must state!
Helping a dear friend of mine understand my birth language you see-
I only use proper English at all times by normal standard of necessity.
Not in books for foreigners learning English as another language does it show-
Hip hop peak as ‘the newest English derivative’ in any way so.
Are you going to tell me successful people in business or governments do speak?
Hip Hop for communicative purposes for any dialogues that they seek?
Of course proper grammar is the choice of most-
As I myself can for all reasons really do boast!
Imagine Shakespeare‘s works becoming modernized with any Hip hop jingle?
That thought makes my nerves upset so they’ll heavily tingle.
Think of English/worldly classics (God Forbid) changed for the 21st century grammatical age-
That started with Hip hop/computer words that would sound horrible on any modern theatrical stage.
I prefer proper English usage and of course it explains who you really are-
None of this new Hip hop language is part of me as a writer by far.