YOLO, skibidi, and rizz are just some of the slang words used by millions of people on social media and messaging platforms. While some words are fun (I am a strong advocate for the use of LOL), others can be extremely creative (for example, turning any noun into an adjective to describe someone being drunk: ‘trollied’, ‘hammered’), and they all show the ways that language is constantly developing. But somehow young people, in particular teens, are blamed for ruining how people talk instead of being recognised for their ingenuity and clever use of language.
It’s giving… evolution
In a study exploring language variation and change over time, Kansas State University showed that language change is more individualistic and can vary depending on the person. Teenagers are often slammed for ruining language due to the shorthand or slang used in their messaging or social media, when in reality, they are not the only ones causing change. Language is constantly developing and changes according to what it needs to be for the generation who speak it.
When mobile phones were first introduced, it was important to be concise and ensure that messages fit into one space. Thus, acronyms like ‘brb’ and ‘wuu2’ arose and allowed us to communicate in ways that were convenient and efficient. Fast forward around 20 years and social media apps such as Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter have become huge melting pots that bring together people from various social contexts, and phrases like ‘rizz’ (charisma) and ‘locked in’ (to focus) are now commonplace instead.
POV: Language is fun
It’s impossible to keep a language exactly the same. Things change, it’s natural! Even if some words might seem confusing (for example, ‘sick’ means something is good), it’s important to remember that young people are simply trying to navigate their own world and figure out how things work.
Slang is a way to demonstrate generational distinction and an article by Stephen Marche published in The New York Times, titled ‘Today’s Teenagers Have Invented a Language That Captures the World Perfectly’, perfectly encapsulates how interesting it can be to learn the slang of today’s younger generations. In another article titled Teenage Talk: It Doesn’t Just Change Language, Betsy Rymes shows a Twitter post that humorously illustrates one mum’s experience with teen language as her child lists numerous (and funny) slang phrases for the word ‘fart’. Although the term ‘booty bomb’ might horrify some people, it only goes to show how creative and impressive young people are in creating these different expressions.
Teenage slang isn’t degrading our language; it adds a playful twist and offers a unique glimpse into the language of each generation and their ideologies at the time. These inventive expressions only enrich and reflect the dynamic nature of language, and that’s the tea! (truth)
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