Hey kids – Stop talking like that!
I bet there’s certain things kids say that grate on you. I bet there are slang terms that, quite simply, you don’t understand.
Every now and then you’ll come across a helpful list of the latest “kids speak” like this one. Go on, read it. It’s brilliant.
I’ll bet if you think back, there were words you used that your parents didn’t really get, and when they tried to use them, well… it was just wrong.
A couple of weeks back I stumbled across a very interesting article, again from the UK.
A school has decided to ban the use of certain slang words. It’s worth noting they’re not talking about swear words, but words like:
“Innit” and the ever present “Like” are in the firing line as is starting sentences with “Basically” or ending them with “Yeah.”
Reaction has been varied. Some (mostly older folk) have applauded the move, whilst others have pointed to the naturally occurring changes in language over time.
Others have claimed that it could be considered racist, as some of the slang words under fire are most common in the vernacular of those from West Indian background.
It’s certainly an interesting debate, because I have my pet peevs too!
The seemingly new phenomenon of shortening words really grates on me.
Totally = totes, Obviously = obvs and for some reason – particularly Channel 10 – have been promoting “Double Eps” for over a year now… Is “Episode” really too long a word?
Yeah I know I know… Basically, I’m just being a grumpy old man. After all this is how the kids speak now innit yeah?
This was originally written for my regular Generation Next column.
Hey kids – Stop talking like that!
I bet there’s certain things kids say that grate on you. I bet there are slang terms that, quite simply, you don’t understand.
Every now and then you’ll come across a helpful list of the latest “kids speak” like this one. Go on, read it. It’s brilliant.
I’ll bet if you think back, there were words you used that your parents didn’t really get, and when they tried to use them, well… it was just wrong.
A couple of weeks back I stumbled across a very interesting article, again from the UK.
A school has decided to ban the use of certain slang words. It’s worth noting they’re not talking about swear words, but words like:
“Innit” and the ever present “Like” are in the firing line as is starting sentences with “Basically” or ending them with “Yeah.”
Reaction has been varied. Some (mostly older folk) have applauded the move, whilst others have pointed to the naturally occurring changes in language over time.
Others have claimed that it could be considered racist, as some of the slang words under fire are most common in the vernacular of those from West Indian background.
It’s certainly an interesting debate, because I have my pet peevs too!
The seemingly new phenomenon of shortening words really grates on me.
Totally = totes, Obviously = obvs and for some reason – particularly Channel 10 – have been promoting “Double Eps” for over a year now… Is “Episode” really too long a word?
Yeah I know I know… Basically, I’m just being a grumpy old man. After all this is how the kids speak now innit yeah?
This was originally written for my regular Generation Next column.
Category: Education, Social Commentary, Youth
Tagged: Generation Next, language, school rules, slang, student voice, teaching, teenagers