Slang is often seen as an informal way to communicate with friends, but it often grows beyond that to become a part of the evolution of language as a whole.
Because slang is constantly evolving, it is hard to keep track of new words and phrases. Sometimes, however, words can become so ingrained in a culture that people can't help but sit up and take notice.
"I think Homer Simpson's 'doh' is in the dictionary now," said Jacob Besigel, junior in aerospace engineering. "It's things like that you would never expect, and they grow out of nothing."
Many words have made the unlikely journey to becoming a legitimate part of language, including words like catawampus, moola and skedaddle.
Fortunately, according to associate English professor Jo Mackiewicz, there will always be new types of vernacular to fill the gap between formal and informal language.
"I think one thing that's different about slang is that it changes very rapidly," Mackiewicz said. "Often when the slang of a particular group happens to be adopted more commonly outside of that group, they can drop it and pick new words that show them to be in a group."
Mackiewicz said an important part of why slang evolves is its association with unique groups .
"I think the way it is similar to jargon is that it is used by a particular group to communicate particular ideas, and it shows that there is group membership," Mackiewicz said. "That's not necessarily its purpose, but that's what it does."
Certain speech patterns, however, can be seen as a staple of people with certain behaviors. The uneducated, the criminally-inclined and even higher-class individuals are sometimes expected to have ways of talking that denote social class and behavior.
Katie Hayes, senior in anthropology, said she doesn't like the prejudices that can be inspired by slang.
"I think it's more of a subcultural phase," Hayes said. "And I think it can reflect badly on America in general because you have all of these subcultures that get a bad reputation because they don't speak appropriately, and it ties into their attitudes their actions."
Because of the ways language can influence first impressions, Mackiewicz advises people to be careful about how and when they use informal language.
"It's appropriate when we're in the group that uses it, and it's fine," said Mackiewicz. "But it's probably less appropriate in a lot of workplace settings, where informal speech isn't as appropriate. You have to pick your moments when you're using slang."
Because a degree of intimacy exists between people who use informal language, it's important not to overstep your boundaries in formal situations. Chelsea Harvey, junior in zoology, has a distinct opinion on when slang should be used.
"It should be used in informal conversation or when talking with your friends, with people who would understand the slang," Harvey said. "It's almost like an inside joke, not everyone understands it."
Mackiewicz said, however, that slang is an integral part of language, and it would be counterintuitive to eliminate it completely.
"I don't think people shouldn't use slang because people do all the time," Mackiewicz said. "It's part of the language. We all speak it. We all use it. The job we have is to understand when it's appropriate."
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