Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) —If you’ve ever heard someone refer to the weather as “wicked brick,” or dismiss something as “chips,” you might have found yourself scratching your head in confusion. But fear not, because these phrases are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the ever-expanding lexicon of slang.
In today’s fast-paced world, language isn’t static; it’s an entity that evolves with each passing day. And at the forefront of this linguistic evolution are slang terms, the vibrant expressions of contemporary culture.
According to experts like Tej Bhatia, a linguistics professor at Syracuse University, these creative reshaping of words and phrases are pivotal in progressing language.
“Young people create language, without it, it would be dead,” said Bhatia. “It’s a linguistic innovation.”
It’s the youthful energy that injects vitality and innovation into our everyday conversations. From “gas” to “slay,” these words don’t just convey meaning; they embody entire cultural movements.
Chris Green, another linguistics professor at Syracuse University, said that slang often originates within specific communities before spreading like wildfire through music, movies, and social media. It’s this sense of community that propels slang into the mainstream, transforming obscure phrases into household terms.
Syracuse student Nyah Jones says pop culture and social media go hand in hand, breathing new life into old words.
“Music and pop culture play a big role in how long words stay,” said Jones. “I feel like slay is a very now term that people are using but we’ve been using it in the black community for so long but we’re kind of over it. And now pop culture is bringing it back so I feel like it kind of ebbs and flows.”
So the next time you find yourself struggling to decipher the latest slang term, remember that you’re witnessing language in action—constantly evolving and adapting to the world around us.