Monday, January 03, 2005
Neato, Swell, Smashing, Killer, Keen, Sweet, Dope
I’ll admit it; I have no idea what “crunk” (or “krunk”) means. I don’t know if I should care that someone is the King of Krunk or the Princess of Krunk. I don’t know if an album featuring the Lords of Krunk, or that provides me with Krunk Juice is a good thing or not. And I am not sure if I should know, being that I am 30 and tragically un-hip.
Slang is sort of a trap for those of us that are uncool. We know that slang is a sort of code language that allows you to move in and out of certain streams. It helps you gain a certain level of respect and familiarity with generations, social groups, and other fraternities. Slang, as a phenomenon, is an example of a meme; something abstract, made up of pure information that is passed on and evolves as it is distributed. Slang is ever changing, and for most of us, we can be caught behind the wave: the absence of slang knowledge does the exact opposite for your reputation what the usage of slang does.
The problem is this; when you hit a particular age, education level, social status… whatever milestone or waypoint you measure your life by, it is inevitable that you will be privy to certain buzz words and catchphrases. These make up the so-called “shop talk” that people sharing a point of interest can exchange at the expense of the boredom of others who are with them. But the popular slang is a little different; it doesn’t come from any real association (such as a vocation) as it does from an individual being exposed to the right things at the right times.
Take hip hop slang for instance; in the late 80’s and early 90’s, when rap was starting to hit mainstream, and we here in Iowa were getting our first real exposure to it, I was a huge fan. The lingo of the moment was B-Boy. You had to know what words like dissin’ and frontin’ and jammy and wack meant. It was during this time when the word stupid was used a lot, as were fresh and hype. But soon after these words became somewhat common knowledge (thanks to TV sitcoms and such), they were no longer cool. The slang had changed, and anyone using these terms seemed artificial and outdated, therefore behind the wave. (side note; this is a tool for hack writers… they often take a stuffy character, say a rich old white guy, and make him use recent but outdated slang to show his uncoolness) Soon, you needed to know what tight was, and phat, and now, krunk.
Nothing feels better than to be ahead of the slang wave; not necessarily using the most current slang in every sentence, but knowing what all the words mean and using them at choice. Forever fighting to research and learn what the newest slang is only shows your desperate pursuit of coolness, which is so uncool. : ) Maybe this quest for slang proficiency isn’t very bad after all; it beats being blissfully unaware of what is being communicated. Recently the words “skeet skeet skeet” have been used in a lot of songs. “Skeet” is sort of a code word for ejaculated fluids; the joke is that if white station managers and music executives knew what it meant, they’d never be able to play the songs uncensored. Instead, blissfully ignorant folks sing right along. Slang is a reward for moving within certain circles, participating in certain subcultures, and being at the right place at the right time.
You get the picture. Slang carbon dates the exchange of ideas between people in a society with a shared common language. It also serves as marker for where you stand in terms of fashion; are you “in” or not. Slang is yet another tool of mankind to develop in-group strategies.
Thanks for reading. You are all so Rufus for sticking with my blog. : ) Word.
Horns up!
Slang is sort of a trap for those of us that are uncool. We know that slang is a sort of code language that allows you to move in and out of certain streams. It helps you gain a certain level of respect and familiarity with generations, social groups, and other fraternities. Slang, as a phenomenon, is an example of a meme; something abstract, made up of pure information that is passed on and evolves as it is distributed. Slang is ever changing, and for most of us, we can be caught behind the wave: the absence of slang knowledge does the exact opposite for your reputation what the usage of slang does.
The problem is this; when you hit a particular age, education level, social status… whatever milestone or waypoint you measure your life by, it is inevitable that you will be privy to certain buzz words and catchphrases. These make up the so-called “shop talk” that people sharing a point of interest can exchange at the expense of the boredom of others who are with them. But the popular slang is a little different; it doesn’t come from any real association (such as a vocation) as it does from an individual being exposed to the right things at the right times.
Take hip hop slang for instance; in the late 80’s and early 90’s, when rap was starting to hit mainstream, and we here in Iowa were getting our first real exposure to it, I was a huge fan. The lingo of the moment was B-Boy. You had to know what words like dissin’ and frontin’ and jammy and wack meant. It was during this time when the word stupid was used a lot, as were fresh and hype. But soon after these words became somewhat common knowledge (thanks to TV sitcoms and such), they were no longer cool. The slang had changed, and anyone using these terms seemed artificial and outdated, therefore behind the wave. (side note; this is a tool for hack writers… they often take a stuffy character, say a rich old white guy, and make him use recent but outdated slang to show his uncoolness) Soon, you needed to know what tight was, and phat, and now, krunk.
Nothing feels better than to be ahead of the slang wave; not necessarily using the most current slang in every sentence, but knowing what all the words mean and using them at choice. Forever fighting to research and learn what the newest slang is only shows your desperate pursuit of coolness, which is so uncool. : ) Maybe this quest for slang proficiency isn’t very bad after all; it beats being blissfully unaware of what is being communicated. Recently the words “skeet skeet skeet” have been used in a lot of songs. “Skeet” is sort of a code word for ejaculated fluids; the joke is that if white station managers and music executives knew what it meant, they’d never be able to play the songs uncensored. Instead, blissfully ignorant folks sing right along. Slang is a reward for moving within certain circles, participating in certain subcultures, and being at the right place at the right time.
You get the picture. Slang carbon dates the exchange of ideas between people in a society with a shared common language. It also serves as marker for where you stand in terms of fashion; are you “in” or not. Slang is yet another tool of mankind to develop in-group strategies.
Thanks for reading. You are all so Rufus for sticking with my blog. : ) Word.
Horns up!
Comments:
ok, you had me up until "Rufus!"
good post. well since I'm not as "cool" or "hip" as I used to be I asked my 15 year old daughter what Krunk/Crunk means. first she goes, "maaaa, why you askin' me?" *rolls eyes*
she said it means to get "hype", "crazy drunk", "to have a good time at a party". I'm like, "oh, like getting "crazy stupid and having "mad" fun!
oh the look I received.
Tiffani by way of BE.
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good post. well since I'm not as "cool" or "hip" as I used to be I asked my 15 year old daughter what Krunk/Crunk means. first she goes, "maaaa, why you askin' me?" *rolls eyes*
she said it means to get "hype", "crazy drunk", "to have a good time at a party". I'm like, "oh, like getting "crazy stupid and having "mad" fun!
oh the look I received.
Tiffani by way of BE.