Words and Generations | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Words and Generations | Previous Challenge Entry
By Pat Vincent
05/16/20
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As a child of the seventies I was told that using slang made me appear ignorant. My stepfather was Russian. Actually, born on a boat while his parents were traveling to the USA. He was self-taught after the eighth grade and spoke seven languages. He did not allow the word “huh” to be used in our house. If you didn’t hear what was said you always said, “Pardon me?” I was not allowed to say, “Can I go to Gina’s house?” I was told, “I don’t know, can you?” The correct way to say it was, “May I go?”
Of course, it was not tolerated in school either. Those were the days when teachers still wore ties and we said the Pledge of Allegiance every day.
I remember being in the seventh grade and coming home for school to proudly announce I was “going with” Walter German. My poor parents immediately said, “Going where?” We weren’t really going anywhere unless you count the lunch room. They were so square and just didn’t get it. Parents never understand.
Slang has evolved through the decades. Excellent in the twenties was, “The bees’ knees.” In the forties it was, “Cool.” In the sixties we had “Groovy,” and in nineteen eighty it was, “Wicked.” Todays’ kids don’t even use real words when the speak slang. They just use letters, “LOL,FOMO” its crazy. Are we as a society becoming so lazy that we can’t even say full sentences?
Are slang words different depending on the state you live in? Think about regional dialect. In the south if you say, “Give me some sugar.” You might get kissed. In the north you would get a cup of the white stuff used to make cookies. “Dressing,” is different also. In the north it is a condiment used on salad. In the south it is often a bread-based side dish. Do you say, coke, pop, or soda?
Words are a funny thing both slang and proper. My mother was Texas born and raised, but spent most of her adult life in California. That’s “Cali” to all you children. Due to her accent she said words that didn’t even make sense sometimes.
I remember her saying, “look there is a far over there.” In reality the word was fire. I did not even know that necked was not correct for not wearing clothes until I was twenty. Apparently, the word is actually naked. Who knew? Eggs or Aggs? For mom it was aggs.
How many more stories and instructions could be included in the Bible if we used abbreviations? DLD-Daniel in the Lions Den. CLYP-Children love your parents.
All I am saying is that slang, dialect, accent, whatever you call it, is here to stay. My parents didn’t approve of it. I as a parent don’t always approve of it. It seems like a form of rebellion or a secret language children create to torture their parents. However, we just need to be tolerant of it and someday, we will hear our precious children say. “What are you saying to me? I don’t understand what #HMJTPFM means.” Poetic justice.

OH, BTW-#HELP ME JESUS TO PRAY FOR MOM.

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