Slang of the 20 th Century From Flappers

Slang of the 20 th Century: From Flappers to Rappers (From Tom Dalzell’s Book) Alan D. De. Santis

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 1 st National Slang Term (1905)

II. 1920 -30 s: From Flappers to Jazz • 1920 s captured by F. Scott Fitzgerald – Times were good and decadent • The early 30 s were depression years – Times were tough • The late 30 s were swing and big-band jazz (the gangster rap of the age) – Strong slang influence from blacks culture

II. 1920 -30 s: 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. 1940 s: 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. 1940 s: 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. 1950 s: From Cool to Beat • 1950 s 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. 1950 s: 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 50 s • 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 -80 s: From Disco to New Wave • 70 s and 80 s 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! H 0! (great), Heard that!, Not!

VI. 1970 -80 s: 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 (1 st 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!