Running Head: MORPHOLOGY / SEMANTICS ACTIVITY 1

Morphology/Semantics Activity

Veronica Hernandez

Department of English, Los Angeles Pacific University

ENGL 420: Principles of Language

Professor Rankin Gonzalez

December 7, 2020
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Morphology/Semantics Activity

Instead of physically observing teenagers, I conducted an online research project on 2020

slang teen language. Going into the research, I expected to see a lot of made up words that had

never been coined before. For example, a non-English word like “zooingded”. This is not a real

word. After conducting my research I realized that teens are taking regular words and using them

in a different context and giving them a different meaning.

Language, including slang, is symbolic of what is occurring in society, and how youth are

responding to their environment. Also, language evolves and new terms enter the mainstream.

“Adolescents are oriented above all to develop an inner world that is accomplished through

elaborate introspection and self-exploration” (Stefa, 2017). Teens create a new language to be

able to connect with their peers and as a form of personalized communication. This is

particularly evident during the middle adolescence stage where teens are about 14-18 years of

age. During this stage they are trying to distance themselves from their parents. Making friends

and popularity are important issues during this stage, therefore language is important too. Using

slang is a way to be part of a group.

I had a fun time doing this research project because it reminded me of all the slang words

that I would use when I was a teenager. It was a great trip down memory lane. In fact, I still use

some of the same slang words today that I used when I was a teenager. Those trendy words are

ingrained in my vocabulary. However, I can understand how as teenagers, we want to speak

differently than our parents or other adults. Teeangers will do everything to not be like their

parents and language is no exception. Teens are discovering who they are as a people in society.

Making up words or giving existing words a new meaning is a part of that journey. It’s all about

standing out and being different and unique.

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Doing this research it impacted me how much morphological awareness is truly used by

teenagers. Slang words are created by different terms like chopping words in half. This process

known as clipping occurs when a word is reduced to a shorter form, usually in casual speech

(Yule, 2017). The principle of coining was also evident by making new words that are acronyms

of shorter phrases. The mere fact that children grow from little kids to teens to adults means that

language will change and grow too. New teens will create new slang words and the cycle will

continue.

As a future teacher, I do think it’s important to be aware of youth and teen slang for many

important reasons. Knowing how children use language can help to know if one child is bullying

another child. For example, if one child says to another, that she just received some “shade” from

another child, this is a red flag that what she received was not a positive thing. Teachers that are

aware of slang will be more aware of how teenagers communicate with others. When I finally

am able to teach in my own classroom, I plan to stay abreast of new teen slang as I know this

will be useful information.

This research project does, in fact, change the way I will approach students from a

linguistic perspective. I think teens should be able to speak slang when they are with their friends

or at home. However, I think that in the classroom, slang should be kept to a minimum. It’s

important for students to participate in language learning without slang as that will most likely

prepare them for the real world. Students should not expect to walk into a board meeting and be

able to communicate with slang. They need to be able to communicate in a professional manner.
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References

Morin, A. (2020, June 24). ​The Teen Slang Dictionary for Parents.​ Very Well Family. Retrieved

December 6, 2020 from

https://www.verywellfamily.com/a-teen-slang-dictionary-2610994

Stefa, E. (2017). Health, well-being and stages of development of children and adolescents.

European Journal of Economics, Law and Social Sciences,​ 1(2), 98-104

Yule, G. (2017).​ The study of language ​(6th ed.) Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.