Analysis of Slang in America

1. Slang is  not particularly in America, it probably just feels like that to us because we live in America and are constantly surrounded by people that speak English.
2. The opening paragraph states that the English language is actually very diverse.  It is a "combiner" and a "conqueror".  This paragraph lays the foundation for the rest of the ideas to follow because the majority then discusses examples of slang and how it has become second nature to us.  Because of the fact that we are so uniform to our language yet so lazy at the same time, slang has become the social norm.
3. lawless- contrary to or without regard for law
germinal- being in the earliest stage of development
perennial- lasting for a long time
Slang is not uniform to a set law of how it should be done.  It revolves around the people and their needs and preferences.  It is also not scripted.  Slang is just known and accepted by everyone that speaks English.  A modern example of slang that applies to the definition that Whitman describes is "yolo".  This word was more popular in the beginning of 2014 when singer/songwriter Drake used it in one of his songs.  "Yolo" was never taught in grade school nor does it appear in a dictionary.  It is not a proper noun nor a verb.  It simply means "you only live once".  Even though it was never properly taught to anyone, it still become globally known and extremely popular among young people.
4. Whitman uses two metaphors in the second paragraph; "Slang... is the lawless germinal element..." and "Slang... is the wholesome fermentation or eructation of those processes eternally active in language..."  I believe that the first is more effective because it proves that slang is almost foolish and absurd.  It is not necessary in society yet we considerate it be.
5. To make his perspective "plainer" by using easy and simple phrases to explain what he means.  He also includes examples of slang to allow us to understand more clearly.
6. According the Whitman, the relationship between slang and mythology is that both have unknown origins.  As mythology pertains to gods and mythical creatures, slang has no exact beginning.
7. I believe these examples illustrate a single point.  Slang changes no matter where in the world you may go.  It is the simplest form of every language.
8. I think the argument about humorists undercuts Whitman's essay.  Although he is trying to make a point about others and their relations with slang, his original opinion is about American slang being ridiculously unnecessary.
9. The overall tone of this essay is serious.  He also seems to be very passionate about this topic.  Whitman addresses his opinion on slang in America and then backs it up with examples and evidence.  In the last paragraph, Whitman refers to slang as "...the start of fancy, imagination and humor..."  He speaks very highly and almost proudly of American slang.
10. From what I have previously read by him, Whitman tends to use short, simple phrases.  He likes these phrases to have deep meaning that must be deeply analyzed.  Although there were short phrases, they were not always very simple.  His passion about the subject seemed to elongate each sentence in order to comment and praise more fully the language and composition of American slang.
11. Whitman's definition is that many slang words have been stripped of literal meaning in order to become something completely different, exactly what they are not.  A common example of this is the phrase "to hang out".  Literally, that would look more like animals hanging from trees.  People use it, instead, to refer to spending time with friends.
12. As a young adult, I use slang very often with friends and even family.  It has become a great part of my typical, everyday life.  Although adults tend to think that we do it to feel cool or just because we are lazy, it is actually just how the world is.  Everyone uses slang, they just don't realize how often they do.

A Bilingual Tongue

"Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan is about a woman whose mother is originally from China.  English is not her mother's native language and that plays a very big role in her life.


A few paragraphs in, Tan includes a direct quotation from the foreign tongue of her mother.  By doing this, se is able to show the reader the lack of "strength" of her mother's English.  If she were to paraphrase instead, the whole idea of her essay would have been weakened.  The literal example helps us to realize that her mother really was a poor English speaker, and that must have truly made it hard on the family.


Tan then switches the blame around and criticizes herself for using "carefully wrought grammatical phrases, burdened... with nominalized forms, past perfect tenses, conditional phrases...".  She wants us to know that she feels she must use all of those to be the most perfect professional writer.  If someone were to tell us that they were an author or journalist then we would most likely expect to see words and phrases that are so meticulously thought up and produced.  She then goes on to say how much she enjoys speaking in the most simplest terms, not only for just her mother.  Even with her own husband she does not seem to use such intense language.  The process she goes through to write for the average American is not normal for her and she is not completely comfortable with having to be so many different people to please everyone.

Forever Cast As Foreign

In "The 'F Word'" by Firoozeh Dumas, Americans tend to judge others by their names.  If they are different in any obvious way, they will treat them as an outcast.  Firoozeh, originally from Iran, moved to America when she was young and she tells of her struggles regarding her name.


Dumas uses humor throughout her memoir to add a sense of sarcasm.  She begins by saying that "...nobody without a mask and a cape has a z in his name."  She does this to issue the fact that yes, she knows that her name is unique.  She creates unity with the Americans by explaining that she understands where they come from by acting indifferent or confused.  She then switches the table and states that "...this would be a richer country if all Americans could do a little tongue aerobics and learn to pronounce..."  This is humorous in the fact that Americans like to stick to simplicity, even when choosing names, and she sees this.


A few paragraphs later, Dumas uses an analogy of a spice cabinet when referring to Americans and the foreign sounds that they refuse to learn.  She says that "having a foreign name in this land of Joes and Marys is a pain in the spice cabinet."


Dumas explains that her most hardships where in the time of grade school.  She reveals that her "name, Firoozeh... In America... means 'Unpronounceable' or "I'm Not Going to Talk to You Because I Cannot Possibly Learn Your Name..."  The humor comes in this statement when she reports that her name is the equivalent of the almost "I'm too embarrassed to mess up your name so I won' try".


Later in her life, she encountered different situations.  She says, "Usually, if I'm waiting to be called by someone who doesn't know me, I will respond to just about any name starting with an F."  She later refers back to this statement with sarcastic humor by saying "I am highly accommodating."  The fact that she feels she has to accommodate according to the typical American person is quite amusing.


By including humor, Dumas can take stress off of the idea that she might actually be upset that people separate her from society over something so dull.  It also helps the reader feel more connected to the author eve if they have absolutely nothing in common.  Dumas tended to criticize the American population inconspicuously throughout this memoir.  By adding humor, it all became less cruel.

This I Believe


It's one thing to work and make a living and its another to work too much that it takes over your life.  Humans should have a balance between working and living so that pay can still be made but hours are not lost with family and friends.

I believe that people should work to live, not live to work.  The absence of this reason results in an unbalanced lifestyle, with the complete focus on one's source of income- their job.

People tend to be obsessed with their job because receiving their pay at the end of the week is gratifying.  Hardworking people are admired in our society and we strive to be placed under these same economical and social statuses.  However,  the act of working hard is not measured in pay nor in hours worked.  We have no sense of when it is reasonable to stop and rest.

As a result, we may sometimes feel that our idea of working hard isn't hard enough.  This causes us to work harder than ever, sometimes keeping us blind to the fact that we are taking time away from other values in our life.

Many people measure their pride in their success.  As adults, many would consider their jobs their main source of happiness- except when they are in the midst of a conflict at work, when then they are then predominantly frustrated or upset.

A couple years ago, I realized the difference between the lives of my mother and father.  My mother constantly stresses over work, letting her pessimistic attitude affect her time at home.  My dad is the complete opposite.  He has a well-paying job and works very hard to keep it, but he rarely ever brings his work life into the house.  This leads him to constantly have an optimistic attitude and time for more fun activities.

This past summer, I was supposed to take a trip to Florida.  My mother ended up calling the trip off because there was a problem with her job.  She had to go in extra hours and work late into the night trying to resolve it.  I rarely ever got to see her.  She let her job take time and fun away from her family.

Although I am still a student and do not have a full-time job to concentrate on, I am very fond of dancing.  I have classes nearly ever night and I often go home after a practice and continue working on the steps.  Instead of doing homework or getting ready for the next day, I am so focused on conquering the moves that I let it appropriate all of my free time.

As I grow older, I tell myself that I want to try my best to stray away from the idea of living to work.  There is more to life than self-brought up ideas of success and there are more ways to succeed than just at work.

The True Meaning of "Home"

"Where we love is home- home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."
Oliver Wendell Holmes

The literal definition of a home, according to dictionary.com is "a house, apartment, or other shelter that is the usual residence of a person, family, or household." Over the past few weeks, while discussing the idea of a community, I now know this to be false. A home does not always have to be someone's house. A home is truly where someone feels as though they belong; that when everything seems to be going wrong they can go there, like home plate.

Luckily enough for me, I have the privilege of having two places to call my home. One is in Rhode Island, with my mom, and the other in Massachusetts, with my dad. With the stress of the day, I often look to these places for comfort not only in the lived-in appeal with my belongings, but also because of the others living there. Community plays a huge role in feeling at home. To be surrounded by people that care about you and can make you laugh is always the real factor.

Another important factor is whether or not the environment is safe. A home should be a place of safety. There should be no doubt that there is any danger whatsoever. Also, acceptance, which is probably the biggest factor. To feel at home should mean that there is no reason to try and impress anyone. You should be loved for who you are and what you become.

Advocacy vs. Activism

"The civil-rights movement was a high risk activism." (The Language of Composition, 350)  Activism is the practice of vigorous involvement as a means of achieving political or other goals.  This was most commonly known during the civil rights movement during protests like boycotts and sit-ins.


The opposition, advocacy, is the act of pleading for that that causes activism.  Support and recommendation are the foundation of this idea.


When both work in conjunction, the ideas being protested are more socially balanced between doing nothing and doing everything.