Naeva Week 1 - Slang: Identity or Impersonation?
Week 1: Slang: Identity or Impersonation? - 08/26 [9:13 PM]
Slang has always been an incredibly important factor in identity. Slang can be a defining factor on how people are perceived, the groups that people surround themselves with, and the individuality that is promoted within specific regions. This article by American University Magazine, titled “3 Minutes on Slang”, explores the connection between slang and how it influences identity, generational language, and regional differences.
For a brief summary, the article starts off by characterizing slang as language that changes from below. Rather than learning language from teachers and institutions, slang comes from different youth subcultures and builds over time generation by generation. The article explains how slang creates individuality, whether it be generational differences in slang or culture-specific dialogue. The example cited is one we are all very familiar with, the “67” meme, coined by Gen Alpha to mark the shift from their older siblings. Slang often comes from minority groups, such as African American Vernacular English (AAVE) or Caló, and while terms have been taken from these groups and used in mainstream media, the same phrases are also used as a method to identify certain groups that are looked down upon. The ending message of the piece is that language is always changing and being inserted into mainstream culture.
After reading this article, I kept on thinking about slang from minority groups. Terms like “hella” and “lowkey” have AAVE origins. I have heard these terms in conversation, and I even use them. However, despite its immense use in all cultures, these terms are being used as methods of perception to identify which groups to discriminate against. This is incredibly prevalent on social media, the place where slang thrives. Minority dialects are redesigned as new buzzwords from non-Black creators, oftentimes using a blaccent. Creators will speak in the same manner as black people, while Black creators are facing discrimination for using the same terminology. Another common aspect is using media and GIFs of Black people as reaction images. Linguists have named this phenomenon digital blackface, where non-Black users gain popularity and clout for using media contributions of Black creators.
This article explains that slang creates a distinct uniqueness that can add to a person’s identity, and that the double standard exists within slang as well. Slang changes from generation to generation and from culture to culture. These new phrases create broad ways to express different feelings and even add to mainstream media. However, when credit is not given where credit is due, and creators continue to capitalize on the input of minority creators, then it enables things like digital blackface. Slang is one thing, creators are already stealing trends, songs, and dances, compositions made by Black creators to express their culture and identity. Overall, this article has helped me realize it is important to have sensibility when using marginalized slang, as it is a piece of someone's experience, culture, and identity.
Image Source: The Paisano
Hi Naeva! I've also noticed the cultural appropriation that has been normalized in the media. The cultural appropriations' that I noticed were in relation to the rising popularity of several cultural attires. I kind of despised the way the media watered down the culture's tradition by labelling and promoting it as a new trend. In relation to your blog, it intrigued me how the terms "lowkey" and "hella" both came from AAVE as I also use those terms often--and looking back, I didn't really remember the origin of those terms nor the reason I started using them. I personally believe that it is ok to use these words on certain occasions with the requirement of (at least) knowing it's origin and deeper meaning.
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ReplyDeleteThis is such a spot-on take. I think you perfectly understood the double standards of internet culture: a non-black creator uses AAVE and gets called “relatable” and “funny,” while the Black creators who built that vocabulary are called “ghetto” or are simply forced to code-switch for using the exact same language.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you called out digital blackface, because no one really acknowledges it. I recently saw a couple of comments on a TikTok which casually discussed finding a new “confused black guy of the month” to serve as a reaction image or a meme. I found this to be very disheartening, as it essentially reduces real people into disposable tools for entertainment and mockery rather than seeing them as individuals.
I loved your reflection, and your takeaway that slang is part of someone's history, struggle, and identity is eye opening. Very powerful Blog!
Hi Naeva! I hope you are having a great day! I have never thought about where the slang I use daily actually originates from. It is really interesting to see how people tend to forget the cultural beginnings of a lot of mainstream stuff nowadays. The argument in your blog sets up an interesting double standard: that when Black people use AAVE it is seen as unprofessional, while when it is incorporated into modern media they become cool trendy expressions. I think it's important to acknowledge how society ignores the origins of popular things, reducing massively cultural complex things to fads that fizzle out in the matter of months. It is also interesting to think about how this is a circular historical pattern that is not only unique to slang. Hip-hop which developed in Black and Latino communities, becoming the most popular form of music around the globe. Hip-Hop was first dismissed as vulgar and crude and looked down upon it during its early stages. What is very alarming is how something can be criticized when it is closely tied to a cultural community, but then is suddenly celebrated and supported when it becomes profitable and accepted by the common media. This blog made me really think about what the origins of the media I consume everyday truly come from and to be more appreciative of those same origins.
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