
A bunch of us had been
cramming for the exam
all day, and we were so
uptight that we took a
walk to cool off. We
bought hot dogs at the
local greasy spoon, and
drifted on down the
street just in time to see a
wino get kicked out of a
bar.

All day, a group of us
had been applying
ourselves with intense
diligence in preparation
for the exam and we
were so filled with
anxieties that we had to
take a walk to relieve the
tension. We purchased
hot dogs at a local
unsavoury and unsanitary
restaurant, and drifted
down the street just in
time to see an alcoholic
destitute ejected from a
drinking establishment.
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Examine the following conversations to see
if they suggest possible reasons….
Pam: How’d you do on the
exam?
Moe: Flunked outright! I
blanked about half way
through and blew the last
three questions?
Ed: Then what happened?
John: Well Ted was just bringing his bomb
up to the mind for a drag when this fuzz
came round the corner on a hog. Man!
Did we peel outa there! I bet we laid
rubber for three blocks!
What other groups can
you name that use
slang because the
group culture
demands it?

Are any of these expression becoming
acceptable?
Do you know precisely what Sue
means by cool?
Collect all the slang words you can for
 People your dislike
 People you like
 Think about which list is longer. Why?
 What similarities do the “anti-people”
expressions have in length and in sound?
 Are they effective?

Look again at your other lists of slang
words. What proportion of them are
monosyllables?

What proportion of them are kind
words?

Does this tell you something about
slang?
You arrive at the home of your date. Her
father answers the door, and after a brief
talk, he comments that his daughter
enjoys dancing very much; you answer,
“Yea, she’s a real cool babe.”

What are the current slang
words for:
› Policeman
› Cafeteria
› Death
› Money
 I’ll
have to ask the old lady.
 I’d better ask my mother.
 I’d better check it out with the
front office.
 I’ll go ask the general.
Do you know any people who use a
certain set of slang terms so often that
you can no longer bear to hear them?
 Is there anyone you generally avoid,
simply because slang makes their
conversation so vague and imprecise
that you are never sure of what they are
saying or thinking?

Terry: You goin’ to the hog-rassle?
Lyle: Yea. You squirin’ a skirt?
Terry: Sure! Hey, gimme a quirley.
Lyle: Here. Who? Not the lightning rod?
Terry: So? You just let it peg; she’s the
bee’s knees!
Who are the greatest users of slang?
When is it used more?
 Who uses more slang—men or women?
 What age group uses the most slang?
 What sports use it most?
 What card games use it most?
 What is your personal impression of the
people who use slang?
