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American Slang
Lecturer: Leon La Couvé e
English is a language that creates a mental image: a picture. What is English
slang or, more specifically, American slang? Many scholars believe that it is,
essentially, non-standard English used in Canada and America. However, it is a
linguistic tool that can help us take command of any conversation or understand any
publication. Today, its usage is very popular in all English-speaking countries. But,
how do we use slang effectively and intelligently? Firstly, we must be extremely
cautious when we use any slang, though it is accepted by all socio-economic classes
and by most college students. An individual’s attitude toward slang may vary from
person to person. For example, most educated and socially sensitive people would
never use slang in a formal occasion as the “picture that would be painted” could be
indicative of an illiterate or uneducated person. That being said, younger people like
its dynamism and freshness. Therefore, slang must be known and understood, but
only used carefully. Today we will focus on American-English slang expressions. Due
to globalization, there is no sharp divide between slang expressions in most
English-speaking countries.
What is the difference between idioms and slang?
An idiom is an expression that has a meaning apart from what the meanings of
the individual words mean. They are similar to metaphors which create an image: “My
heart sank.” An idiom could be this: In today's political environment, the Occupy
Movement is a "hot potato (燙手山芋)." A potato that is cooked keeps a lot of heat. If I
take the potato out of the pot and put it in your hand, you will not be able to hold it for
very long. You will want to give it to someone else, to get rid of it. So the Occupy
Movement is a topic that no one wants to discuss or deal with, just like the hot potato.
This idiom clearly gives you an idiomatic expression that everyone understands.
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered
standard in a given language but may be considered more acceptable when used
socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things
considered. It is often used to identify with one's peers and, although it may be
common among young people, it is used by people of all ages and social groups. The
expression “shut up” in this parlance means “cool” or “great.” Several linguists have
endeavored to clearly define what constitutes slang. Professors Bethany K. Dumas
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and Jonathan Lighter argue that an expression should be considered "true slang" if it
meets at least two of the following criteria:
 It lowers "the dignity of formal or serious speech or writing," and it is likely to be
considered a "glaring misuse of language."
 Its use implies familiarity with whatever is referred to, or with a group of people who
are familiar with it and use the term.
 "It is a taboo term in ordinary discourse with people of a higher social status or
greater responsibility."
 It replaces a well-known conventional synonym. This is done primarily to avoid the
discomfort caused by the conventional item or by further elaboration.
Idioms are phrases that exchange meaning: “It was a shoe-in.” A person does
not literally have their shoe lodged in a door somewhere; the person is referring to
their own being practically already accepted or integrated into a new particular
grouping.
Slang is a substitute for a definition: “That's bogus.” Bogus formally means fake
or counterfeit, but the slang term of bogus means to be wrong in some aspect of
behavior. "Doing someone bogus" means to have done wrong to that particular
person.
Idioms are terms distinctive to a people or to a district, community, or social
class: they are peculiar. Slang is a substitute for a definition: they are distorted. Some
scholars believe that the difference between the two forms of speech lies in their
longevity: if a slang expression survives for a period of time, it becomes an idiom.
Idioms are slowly welcomed and recognized by both the general public and,
grudgingly, by the academies that oversee a language in any country or area: slang is
not. It has to earn its way. The same is true with language. We have to be careful to
keep an eye on where we are with what we say. What we think is "cool" today may slip
away tomorrow.
The usage of slang begins when we first learn English. English is effectively two
languages: formal and informal. On the formal side, wherein we don’t know the person
(the person is not my friend), we should restrict our conversation to discussions of the
weather, sports and traffic. Once we have built a relationship we may embark on
conversations based on relationships, religion, politics, and, much, much later, money.
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Limiters
“We are the picture that we paint.” This is a list of slang replies to simple
questions about your recent activities or your health. Some expressions will limit your
speech pattern:
1)
A: How are you?
B: So-so.
This is a neutral expression meaning bland or mediocre. It is better to say:
"Not bad.”
2)
A: How have you been?
B: Same old-same old.
This suggests you are intellectually vapid. It is better to say:
"Pretty good.”
3)
A: What did you do yesterday?
B: Nothing.
This is logically impossible. It is better to say:
"I spent a nice and quiet day.”
4)
A: What did you do on the weekend?
B: I “just” stayed at home.
Here the inference is that I have no money, no friends, thus I was forced to
remain in my house. It is better to say:
"I stayed at home and did some reading” (even if it is not true).
5)
A: How was your weekend?
B: Nothing special.
This suggests that my life is boring and uninteresting. It is better to say:
"I stayed at home and worked on my project” (even if it is not true).
6)
A: How do you like your work?
B: So far so good.
Here you suggest that your work could eventually have complications. It is
better to say:
"It’s been good” (even if it is not true).
The Division of Slang
The division of slang is, obviously, problematic. It can be arbitrarily divided into
many assembled categories: youth slang, business slang, sports slang, slang
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expressing frustration and slang indicating unrequited desire or vice, are some of the
many divisions. We, however, suggest that the usage of slang is more helpful when
placed in groups of judgment or decision: disagreement, intelligence, failure, stupidity
of goodbyes, to name but a few.
We are now going to play a short game to test your slang knowledge.
1. Talk to the hand. ________________
21. wizard _________________________
2. top banana ____________________
22. uptight ________________________
3. Knock it off! ___________________
23, wiped out ______________________
4. Who died and left you in charge?
24. dumb-bell ______________________
______________________________
25. yo-yo _________________________
5. talk turkey ____________________
26. Holy cow! ______________________
6. That’s bad! ____________________
27. railroad ________________________
7. It sucks! ______________________
28. cut one’s own throat ______________
8. Shut up! ______________________
29. have steam coming out of one’s ears
9. take the cake __________________
______________________________
10. Tell me about it. ________________
30. rolling in money _________________
11. My bad! ______________________
31. eat humble pie __________________
12. I blew it. ______________________
32. hot potato ______________________
13. Bug off! ______________________
33. push the panic button _____________
14. food for squirrels _______________
34. peanuts _______________________
15. upbeat ________________________
35. bootlicker ______________________
16. lights on, nobody home __________
36. bone-breaker ___________________
17. Don’t quit your day job. __________
37. full of baloney __________________
18. snowball’s chance in hell _________
38. Is the pope Catholic? _____________
19. hit the sack ____________________
39. get cold feet ____________________
20. I’ll give you a shout. _____________
40. singing the blues ________________
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How to Introduce Yourself
The “picture that you paint” of yourself, when you
introduce yourself, will have irrevocable consequences.
Fifty years ago, a person’s English accent represented one’s social status and
education, coupled with dress and bearing. This is no longer the case. Now a person’s
facial expression, clothing, grooming, hairstyle – pretty much anything we can
physically see –plus one’s deferential speech pattern, have come to be the social
determinates. When one is in a business situation, such as a client meeting or an
interview, it is important to make a strong “first impression.” One way to create this
first impression is through a positive and elegant introduction.
The key to a stellar introduction is understated confidence: smile, speak clearly,
and show interest. Avoid having moist hands at all cost.
13 Tips: How to Introduce Yourself Properly
1.
Stand up:
If you are sitting, stand up and look in the other person’s eyes. This shows interest
and sincerity.
(Many people believe that the western being is divided in two: the exterior physical
body and the interior hidden soul. Aristotle believed that the eyes are “the windows to
the soul”).
2. Extend your right hand:
Keep an “arm’s length distance” when extending your hand to another person. In
some cultures, being too close will make the other person uncomfortable.
(Historically, the right hand could hold a knife or sword. Extending it without holding
any weapon, therefore, showed your neutral or peaceful intention.)
3. Grip the other person’s hand firmly and gently shake:
You are making a statement about your personal power. Grip the other person’s hand
firmly, but do not squeeze it, especially with a person physically weaker than you
are. Practice your handshake with a friend to get a feel for your strength.
4. Use your first and last names:
Instead of saying, “Hi, I’m Jane.” Say, “Hello or good afternoon/evening. My name is
Jane Smith.” You should always present yourself with your first and last names in an
introduction.
5. If the other person has already introduced him or herself, repeat their name:
“Peter/Mary, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Jane Smith.”
6. If you introduce yourself first and then the other person introduces him or
herself, repeat his or her name and say something nice:
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“Peter/Mary, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
7. If you meet a lot of people or you are a public figure, you may want to avoid
certain sayings:
Replace, “It’s nice to meet you.” Instead try, “It’s good to see you.” This way, if you’ve
already met these people and don’t remember their names, you won’t offend them.
There is nothing disrespectful in saying “It’s good to see you.” It sounds just as
pleasant and inviting.
(Try to never ask for a person’s name a second time. It suggests that you are
disingenuous.)
8. You may include your business in your introduction:
Depending on where you are or what is your purpose, you may need to include the
name of your organization in your introduction. For example, if you’re attending a
business conference, introducing yourself with your company makes sense. “Peter,
it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Jane Smith from ABC Company.”
9. Consider including your title:
Including your title in your introduction is a matter of personal preference and must be
used with tact and caution. It is, however, a good idea in many situations, especially
when you are introducing yourself to someone of equal social status. “Peter, I see
from your trade-show badge that you are the president of DEF Company. It’s nice to
meet you. I’m Jane Smith, the president of ABC Company.
10. Consider including your relationship:
“Peter, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Jane Smith. I’ll be your account executive on this
project.” Or, “Peter, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Jane Smith from ABC. I believe we
have a mutual acquaintance. You’re a colleague of Jim Baker, one of our largest
clients.” This is an excellent way to start a conversation.
11. Look at them:
After introducing yourself, continue to look the person in the eye. This conveys
confidence and sincerity.
12. Listen to them:
Do not be frivolous. Listen to the other person’s introduction. Pay attention to their
name (repeating it helps you remember it later), their company, important details and
anything else they have to say. Listening and good memorization will assist in the
personal picture that you paint.
13. Smile:
An honest and genuine smile will disarm and warm the other person up to you.
Remember, smiling is contagious. Positive people attract positive people.
At Regal, we strive for excellence in all our material. It is compiled from numerous
sources: Regal English, Regal Manners, Leon E. La Couvé e, Cody Wang, The New
York Times, NPR, Wikipedia, and various other provinces. It is provided free of charge.
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