Morphology/Semantics

Activity
Brittany Greer
Eng420 Principles of Language
Professor Gonzalez
12/02/2019
 Noob
“You’re such a
noob”
Fig 1 adapted from vagabondlifestyles.com (2019).

a newbie, especially a person who is new to an online community and whose online
participation and interactions display a lack of skill or knowledge:
Salty
Being salty is when
you are upset over
something little.
-Urban Dictionary

“Why are you being

salty?”

Fig.2 adapted from dictionary.com. (2019)

Chillaxin
“I’m just chillaxin.”

“Simply a word to
describe an ultimate
feeling of relaxation.”

-Urban Dictionary

Fig.3 adapted from chipchick.com (2019)

Tight
“Very close
friends.” -Urban Dictionary

Used to persuade
someone of how close
they are to another
person.

“We’re tight like Fig. 4 adapted from thought catalog.com (2018)

that.”
Thirsty
Too eager to get
something (especially
play).-Urban Dictionary

He’s thirsty for the

Kill. (Reference to teen
Fig. 5 adapted from brilliantbusinessthings.com (2010-2019)
playing video games).
Bruh
Another way of saying really, or
seriously. -Urban Dictionary

“Come on Bruh!”
Fig.6 adapted from meme arms.com (n.d.)
 Lit
It has acquired the meaning
"exciting," as well as a
broader meaning along the
lines of "excellent."
-Merriam-Webster

“That game was lit.”

Fig. 7 adapted from shutterstock.com (2003-2019)

 Bet
”To understand,
acknowledge, roger,
etc.” -Urban Dictionary

A response to a question
or a statement.(could not
hear statement on other
side). Fig. 8 adapted from freeiconspng.com (2014-2019)
”Bet”
 Sick
Fig.9 adapted from howcoolbrandsstayhot.com (2018)

“Slang for cool or hawt or fabulous.” -Urban Dictionary

 Yaas

This word is used in a

way of excitement for
“Yes!!!”
Fig. 10 adapted from freepik.com (2010-2019)
Playing video games,
the teen said “Yaas!”
 What did you expect going in?
I expected for there to be more words that I haven’t heard before. I have heard a few before, but it has not occurred to me to
look them up to see what they mean. I have just assumed their meaning based on context. I expect teeanagers to use different
words or make up their own words to be a part of the in crowd. I expected my nephew who is 17 to be one to use slang words as
described. I did not think that he would use the number of words he did.

How did your expectations live up to the results?

My expectations lived up to the results because I had assumed that my nephew would know any popular sayings and he
did. It was much easier than I had expected.

Why do teenagers have their own set of vocabulary?

Teenagers have their own set of vocabulary in order to separate themselves. Teenagers are going through changes and
trying to figure out who they are. Through that, they make up words. It is also a way to be unkind, but indirectly.

What comparisons/connections can you make to your own adolescent linguistic practices?
When I was a teenager, I used words like “dude, cool, and emo.” I still use the word ‘cool,’ but I think I used the word
because it was a new way to express an opinion summed up into one word. I see small similarities between my development and
the development of the teens who I observed when I think about them expressing themselves. I wanted to be heard and known, I
think that is similar because a lot of teenagers want to be cool. However, I do not know what it is like to grow up in a world with
social media which changes the dynamic a lot.
 How do you connect this activity to your readings about morphology/semantics from a theoretical
perspective?
The principles of morphology/semantics I observed were how we relate meanings to words based on our generation. The word salty
to me would refer to food, the word bruh meant bro to me, and the words tight, thirsty, lit, bet, stoop, all mean something different to
me. According to Yule (2017), “Referential meaning covers those basic, essential components of meaning that are conveyed by the
literal use of the word.” I think of the actual meaning, while teens have come up with other meanings for these words.
The conclusions I can draw about how language changes in real-life, and in real-time is how there are words out there being used
regularly that I have never heard of. My 9 year old knows the meaning of some of these words and I had no idea. Through my
research, I learned other words or abbreviations that children and teens may use while online or texting that can be concerning.

How will you apply this information in your future classroom?

I can look up the different words that students use to understand more of what they are saying. I can do my best to teach proper
English and help my class see the importance of it. This learning changes the way that I will approach students from a linguistic
perspective by getting me to pay more attention to the language being used around me, sometimes even in my own home.

Does this learning change the way that you will approach students from a linguistics perspective?
This learning has changed the way that I will approach students from a linguistics perspective by getting me to pay more attention to
the language being used around me, sometimes even in my own home.
 References

(n.d.). Bruh Memes.Fig.6. Retrieved from: https://memesbams.com/bruh-memes/

(2003-2019). Excitement images. Fig.7. Retrieved from: https://www.shutterstock.com/search/excitement

(2010-2019). freepikcompany. Fig.10. Retrieved

from:https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/excited-woman-says-yes-while-looking-laptop_3952603.htm

(2010-2019). Lucy Loves Business.Being Desperate is Never a Good Look. Fig.5 Retrieved from: https://
www.brilliantbusinessthings.com/being-desperate-is-never-a-good-look/

(2014-2019). Fig 8. Retrieved from: https://www.freeiconspng.com/img/3118

(2019). Cracking the code of millennial slang. Fig. 2. Retrieved from: https://www.dictionary.com/e/s/slang-watch-2017/#salty

(2019) Merrimack-Webster.https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/lit-meaning-origin

(2019). Noob Guide to online marketing.Vagabond Lifestyles. Retrieved from vagabondlifestyles.com

(2019). Urban dictionary.com

 References

Avery, B. & Carpenter, C. (2019). The Chickest Dogs To Follow On Instagram To Brighten Your Day
https://www.chipchick.com/2019/01/the-chicest-dogs-to-follow-on-instagram-to-brighten-your-day.html

Hansen, J (2018). How cool brands stay hot. Fig.9. Retrieved from: https://www.howcoolbrandsstayhot.com/
2018/07/24/6-words-that-define-the-new-cool-for-gen-z/

Nelson, J. (2018). 77 Millennial Slang Words That Will Have You Shook. Thought Catalog.
https://thoughtcatalog.com/january-nelson/2018/09/millennial-slang/

Yule, G. (2017). The Study of Language (6th Edition). United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press.