In the developmental years of a child the adults (such as parents and teachers) who are close to him act as role models for standard speech and grammar skills. Children learn to interact with others through constant attempts to emulate the various techniques and rhymes of communication, which are prevalent all around them. In this long process of edification, kids become young adults and required to cultivate a sense of individualism. Speech takes on a whole new style, and peers have more influence than ever on vocabulary development.
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Slang is a colloquial speech not generally acceptable in formal usage. It generally expresses a abrasive, sometimes offensive, no-nonsense attitude and lends itself to poking fun at pretentiousness. Just about every culture and arena has it’s own version of a local vernacular, most of it derived from commonly used words, and sometimes developing into standard speech. Slang took place in all parts of speech, including verbs, adjectives and complete reference phrases, which give the speaker a broader range of vocabulary to share thoughts, ideas and experiences (in a funny way sometimes). It mixes up with standard speech giving it local and personal flavour. The course of “slanging” comprises the creation and use of jargon, and may entail both non-verbal and verbal cues. It is not a dialect; it adds colour, style, and texture and a tinge of fun. When the feeling or thought is too extreme to be expressed into simple words, slang provides a way to add a verbal exclamation point that catches the listeners’ attention.
People argue that the proper use of speech is a better pointer for maturity, as opposed to using a more informal and trendy vernacular. If it is spoken informal situations such as interviews or meetings with authority figures, it can be a warning sign of a young mind that has yet to be developed to judge situations and people. Nowadays when used in less formal situations such as at school-or in community settings, then it is appropriate and might be seen as a sign of forward thinking by ‘Generation Next’.
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Throughout a person’s childhood there is constant encouragement to model the speech and behaviours of the ‘caretakers in charge’, which is a healthy practice because children will learn volumes of skills from watching and practicing over a long period of time. Slang helps us to establish individuality and personality when used in some specific situations. When spoken in school it helps to build confidence, and when used at home it spurs the process of separation that is important when becoming an adult. On campuses where young minds are seeking to find the quickest path to independence, it is an essential tool in creating an identity for themselves. For how long does the youth have to speak in an uncomfortable borrowed language. It is highly doubtful that the word “wannabe” will even be found in anyone’s word bank in the year 2020. What happens, slowly and gradually, is that a concrete change takes place in maturity.
Most transitional slang-words are distinctly derived from standard speech. Transitional slang is an important element in the aim for growth and independence, and is not necessarily a sign of poor upbringing. It acts as an indicator of a strong mind with increasing confidence. Language is constantly evolving, stretching and growing to reflect the culture in which it resides; it is fitting that speakers should be stretching and growing as well.
The terms and words that belong to slang are typically developed in one of three ways. First way is the changeover from standard vocabulary by blending (combining two words into one), by way of folk etymology (altering a word to make it more understandable or familiar), and sometimes from antonomasia (to create a name from a person’s name or a place). Sometimes this language alteration occurs due to laziness, by dropping several sounds or syllables, For example, in chat rooms or college campuses, the phrase “want to” has transformed and blended into the single word “wanna.” Many phrases are transformed in the same way, by shortening an entire sentence into a simple two or three word phrase. “It’s all good” is a common way of telling someone that “everything is OK, and there’s no need to worry.”
Transitional slang is generally known for its liveliness, humour, emphasis, brevity, novelty, and exaggeration. It is a fascinating language to study because it reflects so much of the sociology of those who are using it. Irrespective of a person’s location, his or her economic status, upbringing or tradition or religion, chances are every vocabulary includes at least a bagful or slang terms, which occasionally popup in speech to provide a dynamic effect.