James Baquet

    Becky is chatting with her classmate Lily in the common room of their dorm.

    Becky: Hi, Lily. What’s up?

    Lily: “What’s up?” Boy, Becky, we never learned words like that in our English books!

    Becky: What do you mean?

    Lily: Well, I guess I studied “proper English.” But then I found out: No native speaker talks like the textbook!

    Becky: True! That’s the case in most languages. Unless you’re in a formal situation, most people use a lot of slang.

    Lily: But I never know when to use slang, and when to keep it formal.

    Becky: Actually, back in 1934, a British guy named Eric Partridge made a list of 15 reasons to use slang.

    Lily: Can you tell me some of them?

    Becky: Sure! The first reason he gives is just that it’s more fun! If I say, “Good morning, Lily. And how are you doing today?” it sounds so stuffy. “Hey, what’s up?” or “How’s it hanging?” sounds more lighthearted.

    Lily: Okay. What else?

    Becky: Sometimes we’re trying to be clever.

    Lily: Example?

    Becky: To say, “Good thinkin’, Abe Lincoln!” instead of “That is an excellent idea.”

    Lily: That makes sense.

    Becky: We also use slang to make our language gentler, less biting.

    Lily: I don’t get it.

    Becky: As you know, death is quite serious. So sometimes when we talk about it, we say things like “he kicked the bucket” or “she checked out.” That way the topic doesn’t sound so serious.

    Lily: I see.

    Becky: We also use slang to show who’s in and who’s out. For example, young people use certain expressions that show that they’re cooler than their parents. If parents use some of the same expressions, they sound silly.

    Lily: Yes! I know exactly what you mean now. Can’t we also use it to hide what we’re saying from people who aren’t “in the group?”

    Becky: Absolutely! Partridge mentioned that too. He also said that sometimes — and I think this is true for a lot of kids — we just use slang to be different or “weird.”

    Lily: I can picture that.

    Becky: And we can even use it to be shocking.

    Lily: So, the opposite of being gentle.

    Becky: Yes. But slang can also help us to be more colorful or picturesque in our speech. Instead of using the same tired old expressions, we can be creative.

    Lily: So “What’s up?” instead of “Hello” or “Good morning.”

    Becky: But also, “What’s the story, morning glory?” or “What’s the word, humming bird?” Stuff like that.

    Lily: Funny!

    Becky: Let me tell you one more: Sometimes slang is earthier, more concrete. Instead of saying “my office” we might say “the salt mines,” to indicate that work is hard.