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Lesson 1: Linguistic Structures of Youth Language

Definition: Youth language is a dynamic element of our culture that constantly evolves and is shaped by diverse influences. In this lesson, we will explore the lexical diversity within youth language.

Key Concepts

  • Informal Communication

  • Cultural Influences

  • Intensifiers in Expression

  • Gender-Specific Differences

  • Swearwords in Youth Language

  • Creative Linguistic Elements

UNIT 1: Different ways of expressing oneself in youth language  

​Youth language differs from standard language in several ways. For example, adolescents tend to use shorter phrases for more informal communication and to express their thoughts casually. The use of casual and informal language is evident in expressions as «Hey» and «Are you down to join us?» This informal tone fosters a sense of camaraderie among young people. It is important to differentiate between youth language in British English and in American English because they reflect different cultural influences that occur in their respective societies. In the American English youth language, words such as «dude», «damn», or «dope» are among the best-known expressions. In British English youth language, words such as «bollocks», «sick» or «brilliant» are most used. In the United States, evaluative adjectives hold a prominent place in youth language, with words such as «awesome», «weird», «stupid», or «funny» commonly used by adolescents. Adolescents also often employ intensifiers, e.g. «totally» and «so»: Last night’s party was totally awesome and it got a little weird when the music suddenly stopped. In the United Kingdom, the adjective «lovely» is especially popular and words such as «dead», «badly», «jolly», and «bloody», as well as «well» and «enough» are used as intensifiers. An example would be: She had a jolly good time at the party, and the weather was lovely. We danced all night, and it was bloody amazing! In both forms of youth language, adverbs such as «really», «seriously», «basically», «simply», and «completely» are frequently used and serve as intensifiers in adolescent communication. Intensifiers heighten the significance of what is being referred to. For example, similar to «totally», «so» is used to express agreement as in «She is so talented». These words help to convey feelings and opinions in a more vivid and informal style of expression. English youth language includes more such words compared to the vocabulary of older generations. There are also a few gender-specific differences in youth language. For instance, young men often use the word «dude» to address one another or to express camaraderie, such as saying, «Hey dude, did you see the game yesterday?» American adolescents often use markers of attention such as «hey» or «wow», as well as more polite expressions such as «sorry» and «please», which is surprising because youth language is not typically associated with politeness but rather with swearwords. Research indicates that in both British English youth language and American English youth language, adolescents use a wide variety of swearwords. Among the most popular swearwords are «shit» and «damn». Those words are some of the most recognizable features of informal conversations among adolescents.

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Exercise 1: Discuss with your neighbour.

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Conversation scenario: A group of friends is planning to spend the weekend together and is brainstorming about the activities they want to do.

In groups of three or four, simulate a conversation using the words and expression of youth language mentioned above. Start with someone asking the question «Hey, what’s up on the weekend?», and then have the others respond. After the conversation, discuss which words and expressions were used and whether you also use them in our own conversations. Write down some example phrases that you have used in the past or that you would use. Reflect how these linguistic characteristics might influence comprehension.

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Unit 2: Creative linguistic elements in youth language

Youth language is characterised by its rich and diverse vocabulary. Vocabulary is the fastest-changing component of language and the expressions that are used by adolescents evolve rapidly in order to mirror the changing cultural trends. One noticeable characteristic of youth language is the extensive use of abbreviations, which occurs in various forms. Sometimes, certain syllables or letters are omitted. A well-known example is «LOL» which stands for «Laugh(ing) Out Loud» and it expresses that something is funny. Another widely recognized acronym (i.e., a specific type of abbreviation that always consists of the first letter in every word) is «YOLO», which stands for «You Only Live Once», and emphasizes the idea of living life to the fullest. These abbreviations are primarily used in written communication. Another element of youth language is the omission or substitution of certain words, for example the use of «u» for «you» or «2» for «to». Sometimes, entire words are omitted to create an even more informal atmosphere. This reflects the informal and relaxed tone that adolescents favour in their communication. In some instances of youth language, grammar is disregarded and as grammatical rules become less rigid, an entirely youthful style emerges. This style can be challenging to understand for those that do not belong to the target group. An example of this English youth style is the use of «ain’t», instead of «isn’t» or «aren’t» in informal conversations. An adolescent might say «I ain’t goin’ to school tomorrow, it’s too boring». Youth language also incorporates certain expressions that demonstrate the dynamic character of youth language and that enable the adolescents to express themselves creatively. These expressions demonstrate the variety and flexibility of youth language. A well-known expression is «to spill the tea», which means to reveal information or gossip. For instance: I can’t believe she spilled the tea about what happened at the party last night!

Exercise 2: Work on your own and write down your answers.

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Identify all the typical features of youth language in the following statement and explain how those elements contribute to the existence of a unique youth language style. Respond to this individually by using more words that you would also bring up in conversation with other young people.


«Hey, are u coming 2 the party 2nite? It's gonna b so much fun, LOL! Don't miss out on the vibes. BTW, did u hear? Sarah spilled the tea about what went down last night at Jake's place!»

Did you finish the exercise? Abbreviations: «2» instead of «to» «2nite» for «tonight» «LOL» for «laugh out loud» «BTW» for «by the way» Informal Spelling: «u» instead of «you» «b» for «be» «cuz» for «because» Slang: «gonna» for «going to» «vibes» (referring to the atmosphere or feelings) Pop Culture Reference: «spilled the tea» (shared gossip or information)

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Final thought for this lesson

 

It is essential to recognize that youth language varies across different cultures and regions and that it changes over time. Youth language is also typically influenced by current trends, media, and the social environment. What do you think about how youth language affects the English language and its cultural importance? Can you think of any words from youth language that are now part of standard language?

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