Slang of the 20th Century:From Flappers to Rappers

(From Tom Dalzell’s Book)

Alan D. DeSantis

Some Opening Notes:

• A) Slang changes quickly– 10% retention rate every 10 years (Eble, 1987)

• B) But slang is reincarnated over and over again– The same terms are seen every generation– Often w/ different meanings (drag, fat, bimbo)

• C) Used almost exclusively by the young• D) Every generation “slangs” what is important to them

– Studying their slang is a way to understand a generation

Some Opening Notes:

• E) Why is slang used?–1) It conceals meaning from parents

• But do kids use slang in front of them?–2) It identifies you as part of the tribe–3) It defies authority (talking like a rebel)–4) It makes one feel special & important–5) It excludes other peer groups

Let’s Test Your Knowledge of Slang

• Use the open spaces in your workbook– Or number your paper from 1 through 21.

• For each question, give me your best guess.• At the end of class, we will award the

Championship to the “Hippest Cat!”• No Cheating!!

I. From 1900-1919• Before the end of WWI (1919) there was little use

of slang– Why: Mass media was not a “national” phenomenon

• Terms could not be shared or spread by the youth culture

• College students used slang “locally”– At UK, we have: Ho, POT, the Keys

• But there was one NATIONAL exception . . .

I. From 1900-1919

• 1) 23 Skidoo – Three meanings: OK, Good, See You Later– This was the 1st National Slang Term (1905)

II. 1920-30s: From Flappers to Jazz• 1920s captured by F. Scott Fitzgerald

– Times were good and decadent• The early 30s were depression years

– Times were tough• The late 30s were swing and big-band

jazz (the gangster rap of the age)

– Strong slang influence from blacks culture

II. 1920-30s: From Flappers to Jazz• 2) Half-cut, fried, jammed, juiced, pie-eyed, polluted,

plastered, shot, tanked– Drunk (most popular reference of the age)

• 3) Bat, brawl, buzz, rag, toot, wrestle, egg harbor– A dance party

• 4) 5 Things: Gob stick, dog house, gobble pipe, skins, git box– Instruments: clarinet, bass, sax, drums, guitar

• If you got all 3, you are swanky or tasty

III. 1940s: From the War to Babies • 1941-45 saw WWII

– Much slang was based on male war interactions• After the war, America experience good times

– “Happy Days Are Here Again” #1 Song• They seemed to name everything

– Not many stayed around

III. 1940s: From the War to Babies• 5) Drooly, pappy, swoony, BTO, PC,

– An attractive man (big-time operator, prince charming)• 6) 5 Things: Moss, blinkers, flops, schnozz, pillars

– Body Parts: Hair, eyes, ears, nose, legs• 7) Fatal pill, go-away kiss, lead pill, check out, blotto, in

the drink – WWII Terms: Bullets and dying

• If you got these 3, you are a real hep cat (most popular term)

IV. 1950s: From Cool to Beat• 1950s were “Happy Days,” at least on the surface

– But there were always Fonzies• Young were restless (rejection of parents)

– Salinger’s Catcher, Brando’s Wild One, Dean’s Rebel, & Elvis’ Jailhouse Rock

• The Beatnick movement also exploded– Wore black, drank coffee, & read poetry– Terms: Hipster, like, daddy-o, cat, & dig

IV. 1950s: From Cool to Beat• 8) Bad news, beast, bomb, hack, kemp, wedge

– Cars & Hot Rods (many terms)• 9) Cut the grass, don’t tense, fade out, get bent

– Insults: Shut up, take it easy, disappear, I hate you• 10) Squaresville, deadsville, dullsville

– A bad place to be• If you got all 3, you are cool (#1), creamy, fat, mad,

hairy

V. 1960’s: From Surf to Dope• Breaking away from the conservative 50s• Rock Peaked:

– Motown, British Invasion, Acid Rock, Hippie Rock, folk, & Woodstock

• It was the most politically active & individually expressive decade of the Century– Anti-Vietnam, Feminism, Civil Rights, Free Love,

Free Speech, Black Power, etc.

V. 1960’s: From Surf to Dope

• 11) Barf, blow, beets, flash, heave, ralph, – To get sick

• 12) Category: Hang ten, stoked, bitchin, dude, bro– Surf Terms

• 13) Reefer, gage, mary jane, spliff, jay, doobie, roach– Marijuana

• If you got all 3, you’re bad, boss, freak, suave

VI. 1970-80s: From Disco to New Wave

• 70s and 80s share a lot in common• Politically inactive, pop-culture driven, no

wars, no meaningful direction– Called the “Me Generation”

• Really big with 1 or 2 word exclamations!!– Basic! (right) Be real!, Bite me!, Cool Beans!, Eat

me!, Go for it! H0! (great), Heard that!, Not!

VI. 1970-80s: From Disco to New Wave• 14) Boff, boink, grind, do the nasty, deed, or wild thing

– Sex• 15) To chill, hang, veg, jell, kick it, ease

– To do nothing• 16) Category: Fer sure, Tscha, grody, totally, to the max

– Valley girl: “Gag me with a spoon”• If you missed these, you are beat, gnarly, harsh, heinous

VII. 1990-2000: Your Generation

• Times have been good– Strong economy, no world wars, high college

rates• Three Major Influences

– Pop culture (TV & Movies)– Computers/Technology– Hip Hop

VII. 1990-2000: Your Generation• 17) Biscuit, burner, heater, joint, steel, toast

– Guns• 18) Category: Later, Peace Out, “How you doin’,” “Wha’s up”

– Greetings• 19) Bones, Franklins, G’s, jacks, yard, clout

– Money• 20) Break, bust, chat, comp, freestyle, kick, rip

– Rap or sing• 21) Been there, done that; outta my way man; cowabunga; hurl; take a pill; babe-

osity; Not!; schwing; party on!– Bart & Wayne (pop culture icons)

• If you got all 5, you are “Phat,” “Tight,” or “the Bomb”

Closing Thoughts

• A) Many words are cyclical and reincarnated– 1930’s gave us:

• Suck, sweet, mellow, not!– 1940’s gave us:

• Brutal, cap, fly, scrub, tasty, groovy – 1950’s gave us:

• Clue, hang, kill, nerd, trip, turn on– All have been reincarnated at least 3 times– Thus, each generation is not as innovative as they think

Closing Thoughts• B. Every generation “slangs” the same 8 things

– 1) girls/guys – 2) drinking

• In 1737, Ben Franklin counted 228 terms for drunkenness (1st slang list)

– 3) greetings– 4) sex– 5) popular people– 6) unpopular people– 7) money– 8) homosexuals

• Are these the most important topics for the young?• Looks like you, your parents, & your grandparents were not that

different after all

Closing Thoughts• C. What causes “slang” to change?• Answer: When mainstream America starts using it!

– Why Hip-Hop vocabulary changes so quickly

• D. Slang is here to stay– And NO, you will not understand the next

generation– Isn’t that the point of slang?!

Later Dudes!