Monday, July 22, 2019
Slang Case Study Essay Example for Free
Slang Case Study Essay Words are a part of our daily lives. With words we can communicate with others and evoke our feelings. But not every word has the same meaning in various regions of the world. Words just like humans are shaped by the location and culture that they are introduced to. This is what makes slang words interesting. Depending on where you live, a slang word can have a completely different meaning. For this assignment I will define the slang word ââ¬Å"swag.â⬠Iââ¬â¢ll be discussing the modern meaning, etymology, and correct usage. Swag is a common noun used today, mostly among teenagers. The word is used to describe a certain type of clothing that teenagers wear. The clothing resembles the style of modern hip-hop artists such as Lil Wayne, Big Sean, and Drake. The word can also be used to show off cool acts that teenagers perform. Like after jumping of a building, I cool kid would say something like ââ¬Å"Bro, you canââ¬â¢t touch my swag!â⬠According to urban dictionary ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠is the ââ¬Å"most used word in the world and is a word used to represent yourself based on the way you dress.â⬠Swag has different meanings throughout the world. In Australia the term ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠is used to refer to the dangling luggage that a homeless man carries. ââ¬Å"Swagâ⬠is also used to describe home items such as ââ¬Å"swag lampsâ⬠and ââ¬Å"swag curtainsâ⬠, which are basically dangling versions of the original lamp and curtains (Snopes). In America, many relate the word ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠to ââ¬Å"swayâ⬠which describes a certain motion of a bold, arrogant, and conceited person. So I think based on this information itââ¬â¢s easy to say that the word ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠was introduced through old hip-hop, where loose clothing and sagging was the fashion and now has evolved through modern hip-hop to accommodate the newer fashion. The most common misconception about the word ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠is that itââ¬â¢s often misunderstood as an acronym. Many people think that ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠is an acronym for ââ¬Å"Secretly We Are Gayâ⬠. The exact origin of the word ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠is still a mystery. Some believe the first written usage of the word ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠was first written by a Gilbertine Monk named Robert Mannyng in 1303. Mannyng in his poem says ââ¬Å"there was a wycche, and made a bagge, A bely of lepyr, a grete swaggeâ⬠. In this poem Mannyng refers to ââ¬Å"swaggeâ⬠as a bag. According to Oxford dictionary, ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠is a verb derives from the Scandinavian word ââ¬Å"svaggaâ⬠which means to rock unsteadily or lurch. This idea is widely accepted due to the fact that ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠sounds like it originated from the word ââ¬Å"swaggerâ⬠, which also means to sway. The word is said to have entered the English language around the 13th century meaning ââ¬Å"hanging looselyâ⬠(Snopes). Other meanings of ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠also include a sinkhole used to collect water, a shop that sold stolen goods, or stolen loots by either pirates or criminals. Some also say that ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠was used in old English movies to describe criminal loots, leading to false accusations of acronyms such as ââ¬Å"Stolen Without A Gunâ⬠, ââ¬Å"Sold Without A Guaranteeâ⬠, and ââ¬Å"Souvenirs Wearableââ¬â¢s And Giftsâ⬠. Based on this itââ¬â¢s easy to connect ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠to older or underground hip-hop where loose clothes and stealing was a common motto. The correct usage of the word ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠is hard to define just because itââ¬â¢s a slang word and there is no exact definition. According to our culture and society, I would say ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠is a term used to describe a personââ¬â¢s clothing and a part of his personality. Itââ¬â¢s easy to infer a personââ¬â¢s personality by looking at his clothing. Different people have different personalities and some of it is shown through their dressing. This freedom of expression can show a personââ¬â¢s values, beliefs, and culture. So, in a sense a personââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠can portray his character. ââ¬Å"Swagâ⬠usually has a negative connotation due to the over usage of the word in the rap industry, but in my opinion ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠is a general term that can be used by anyone. Just like the words ââ¬Å"Boom, Whack, Blop, and Kaboomâ⬠, swag can be used at the end of a sentence to add emphasis and humor. In conclusion, ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠is an old word that has its own history but has evolved through human influence to have a completely different meaning throughout different parts of the world. Even though the overuse of the word has completely dried its value, ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠still has an interesting origin and is fun to use. Just like other words, slang words are interesting because they are influenced by human culture and society and change accordingly as time moves on. Today ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠has a different meaning than what it originally was used for. So we can only imagine wh at ââ¬Å"swagâ⬠would mean in the future. Work Cited Swag. Snopes.com: Etymology of Swag. N.p., 26 Sept. 2012. Web. 31 Jan. 2013. Geyer, Jessica. Swag: An Etymology. YouTube. 03 May 2012. Web. 31 Jan. 2013. Urban Dictionary: Swag. Urban Dictionary. N.p., July 2012. Web. 31 Jan. 2013.
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