From generation to generation, a common similarity seen throughout the decades is the usage of slang. SCHS students shared their opinions on the increased utilization of slang and its effect on their social circles, while teachers reflected on how slang has changed throughout the years.
Senior Gavin Glennon admitted he is an avid user of slang, claiming he uses it often. He is happy expressing himself through lingo, but, he admitted, there is a necessity for code-switching when using slang. Code-switching is a method of alternating between types of language depending on the appropriate situation.
“I wouldn’t use slang as I would around random students. I wouldn’t go up to a random person and say, ‘Wow, have you seen the new Kai Cenat stream with Fanum?’ No, I’d say ‘How was your day?’” Glennon said.
Glennon classifies slang terms as “street words” that one would not find in a dictionary but online. He believes the internet plays a major role in the massive surge with the popularity of lingo.
“I’ve noticed since the rise of social media platforms such as Tiktok and Instagram, if you open up the comment section, the most common thing you’re probably going to find is slang,” Glennon said.
For Junior Maliyah Vargas, slang serves as a method to become more involved in conversations. Vargas admitted not needing to code-switch due to her comfortability using slang around teachers. When talking to adults, however, she said there is a gap in conversation involvement.
“I think, like the older generations, their slang is more straightforward. People hear it and they don’t know what it means. They have to Google it because they have no clue,” Vargas said.
Senior Victor Gonzalez holds a similar opinion as Vargas. He agreed that the slang teachers hear now leaves the door open for confusion.
“It differs because they might be using slang from when they were growing up compared to what we are now using. So there’s a lot of miscommunication,” Gonzalez said.
Science teacher Saheed Mohamed believes slang is a positive thing among the youth. He confessed that he is a little behind the times on the current slang.
“I tried making fun of a student by calling them ‘basic’ last year. I learned that it’s like 10 years out of date now, so I’m very behind on the times,” Mohamed said. “Insults change too, so if I need to insult students properly, I need to keep up with the times.”