Morphology Semantics
Activity
Lucia Chaidez Felix
Los Angeles Pacific University
Principles of Language
ENGL 420
Professor: Smarr
December 4, ,2023
3 new words I learned
1 Cap 2 Slay 3 Ballin’
This word is used by This word is used by This word is used by
tennagers in substitution for ‘tennagers to express tennagers in substitution for
the word “lying”. “success’ the word “rich”.
It can be used in a sentence in It can be used in a sentence in It can be used in a sentence in
the following way. the following way. the following way.
“Cap, for reals? Stop playin” “Slay queen, you look good” “Dang, you ballin bro”
ballin
3 new words I learned
1 Fleek 2 Roast 3 Dope
This word is used by This word is used by This word is used by
tennagers in substitution for ‘tennagers to express “insult” tennagers in substitution for
the word “perfection”. the word “cool”.
It can be used in a sentence in
It can be used in a sentence in the following way. It can be used in a sentence in
the following way. the following way.
“Dude, who you tryin to roast?”
“My outfits on fleek, my boy” “Dang queen, that’s dope”
DOPE
3 new words I learned
1 Slaps 2 Rizz 3 Bet
This word is used by This word is used by This word is used by
tennagers in substitution for ‘tennagers to express “flirt” tennagers in substitution for
the word “perfection”. the word “facts”.
It can be used in a sentence in
It can be used in a sentence in the following way. It can be used in a sentence in
the following way. the following way.
“Dude, rizz time”
“This burger slaps” “Bet, you fo reals going?’
3 new words I learned
1 Yeet 2 Thirsty 3 Flex
This word is used by This word is used by This word is used by
tennagers to express throwing tennagers to express someone tennagers in substitution for
something very fast”. is trying to get attention the word “flaunt”.
It can be used in a sentence in It can be used in a sentence in It can be used in a sentence in
the following way. the following way. the following way.
“Yeet, catch” “Why you acting thirsty girl?’ “All you do is flex bro, you ain’t
got nothin”
FLEX
What did I learn?
What struck you about the language being used by the teenagers whom you observed?
The language use I observed was quite fascinating to say the least. When I was going in I expected to
at least know a few of the words they were using because I didn't feel that old… but that was a rude
awakening because there were times where I had no idea what the word meant or even worst why a
familiar word was used in that context. My expectations did not live up to the results.
Why do teenagers have their own set of vocabulary? Be sure to consider the developmental stages of
adolescence, and what is being accomplished intra- and inter-personally, by creating a shared
language.
I believe that the way teenagers communicate is necessary given that they feel identified and
understood with their peers which during adolescence is hard to achieve because of the social factors.
What did I learn?
What comparisons/connections can you make to your own adolescent linguistic practices? Some of the
comparisons I was able to make when listening to my teens speak was how I truly enjoyed speaking in
slang when I was young because my mom did not understand what I was saying and this somehow gave
me a sense of control and independency.
Did you engage in similar language creation when you were that age? Absolutely, sometimes the creation
of this language would differ based on what part of town you lived in. So at times you could be having a
conversation at the mall with another teenager and both of us were having completely different
conversations.
Do you see similarities between your development and the development of the teens whom you
observed? I believe that the similarities are consistent given that my teenagers also enjoy me not
understanding the conversations they are having because it gives them the perception that they know
more than me.
How will you apply this information in your future classroom? I hope to use this information to gear my
approach when talking to teenagers and although most of the learning in schools is academic language I
will do my best to use slang to hook them to the learning or lesson I am teaching.
References
Urban Dictionary. Retrieved December 4, 2023, from
https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=slay
The Eiffel
Tower
...is where I’d like to go next!
