should ghetto slang be classed as a language?

Question

I was just wandering if Ghetto-slang (used mostly by black people and rappers) should be made a language. I mean, an ordinary english person would only understand 70% of what rappers say in rap songs and i've seen some of the definitions of these words in Urbandictionary.com and it seems to me to be totally different to English

Answer 1

Being able to understand someone is not a sign that a dialect is the same language or a different one. I can hardly understand what the Scots or Brummies say in the UK! But that doesn't mean they don't speak English.

In 1945, Max Wienreich said:

A language is a dialect with an army and a navy.

The division between dialect and language is quite thin. What one person calls a dialect, others may call a language. Generally, a variety of a language remains a dialect until it is recognized by governments (or linguists) as a language. While some have described ghetto-slang, or Ebonics, as a language, whether or not it is a language is still debated.

Answer 2

It's just slang. It's a dialect/derivative of english, it's just another way to express ones self. Just because you use slang doesn't make you stupid.

Maybe you're the stupid one for not being able to understand what rappers say in their songs =P

Slang generally varies from region to region, in Britain for example english being spoken in London differs from the english being spoken in Yorkshire because of local accents and colloquialisms.

However I don't feel slang itself should be made into a language of it's own, because as I said it's JUST SLANG it's harmless, it's freely used amongst friends, relatives, acquaintances etc.

It shouldn't be used at work though because some people may feel alienated or not part of the group because they don't understand what's being spoken.

And not all black people speak "ghetto", you sir, watch too much MTV....

Answer 3

Umm...no. The day they start teaching it in schools (as it will do them no good) is the day I stop paying taxes.

Ebonics Phrases - Yo - Hello
Sup? - How are you?
Dope/Dizzle - good
Off da hook/hizzle/hizza - very good
Whack/Whizzle - bad
Da Kronik - good weed
Peeps - people
Ni/Nizzle/Nizza - Man/friend
Dawg/Dizzle/Dizza - Man/friend
Beeatsh - Woman/female friend
Ho/Hizzle/Hizza - Woman/female friend
Pimp'd up/out- well dressed
Ride/Rizzle/Rizza - Car
5-0 - Police



Schlaftius Sunday 04th of September 2005 08:35:33 PM
More Ebonics Phrases - Phat - good
Fly - good
Supafly - very good
don't be trippin' - Do not be anxious (a difficult word to translate)
keepin' it real - keeping things in prespective to reality
shortiez - children
livin' it large - living a prosperous life
chicken head - ugly woman
pigeon - ugly woman
papers - money
to smoke - to shoot
to bust a cap - to shoot

Schlaftius Sunday 04th of September 2005 08:44:59 PM
Mo' Ebonikz - Crib/Krib - house
Bu - darling/girlfriend
9'z - a gun
6-Flow - Car
Crackaz/Crizzles/Crizzaz - Caucasian
Grillz - teeth
d-lo - keeping yourself unnoticed
pen - prison
gank'd - to be mugged/robbed
reprezentin' - to represent yourself or your group

Caramelicious Monday 05th of September 2005 12:02:11 AM
- Ni/Nizzle/Nizza - Man/friend
Be careful when using this word. I probably use slang everyday without even knowing it. I must say, I don't want to really go into details with the word, because I don't want to offend anyone.... I suggest you just not use it - To explain why, if you take the word "Nizza" and replace the "z" with "g"'s you will understand why. This is where the word came from, this is Westcoast slang so you probably won't hear me say this word a lot.

Some phrases that I use:
1. Check yo' self = Watch what you say or watch what you
are doing.
2. Sauced - When you embarrass someone
3. Grill - I use this word to mean Space or teeth.
-- You all up in my grill - You're in my face / You're in my space / You're too close to me, etc.
4. Eat cake / Be gone = Get lost

I don't know if Ebonics is considered a real "language" but if so, things change everyday! I myself nor my peers will ever use these phrases anymore:

1. Da bomb - (replaced with "dat hotness")
2. Fly or Superfly

There are more, but I can't think of anything right now.

Schlaftius Monday 05th of September 2005 04:01:47 AM
Nuff Eboniks - Wurd, Aaron, keep up da good work shortie.

Ay bi havin' mo wurdz fo dis here forum-on.

Bling-Bling - flash jewelery
Nasty - not good


Schlaftius Monday 05th of September 2005 04:06:16 AM
- O.G. - Origninal Gangsta
G-thang - Gangster business
to hol' sum ends - to borrow some money


Caramelicious Monday 05th of September 2005 06:11:27 AM
- Fa shizzle!
Shortie = when a guy likes a girl what he calls her :S

Imma have some mo' probly tomorra'

Schlaftius Monday 05th of September 2005 06:37:25 PM
- Fa Shiggidy, jus' keep dis here thang real.

check dis yo

Homie / Homiez - Friends
darkness - dark complexioned African-American
Uncle Tom - Submissive to Caucasians

Answer 4

even nonetheless i became no longer raised interior the ghetto, some fantastically nasty language comes out of my mouth once I get offended. i became born & raised in an rich section. So, i do no longer think of it makes plenty distinction the place we grew up, yet what we've been allowed to be uncovered to via our mothers and fathers interior the starting to be technique. i think of our anger is a organic reaction to feeling threatened. Our survival instinct kicks in and we commence protection innovations, like exhibiting our solid area and unwillingness to be victimized.

Answer 5

No, and if white people would quit trying to talk that way, act that way, and quit paying to see and or hear that BS maybe that slang would just die--- you can thank the democrats( in a resent vote ) for NOT making ENGLISH America's language-- BTW- h. clinton voted NOT to make English our language

Answer 6

i think if it was in isolation, or if it was used in a country where there was not a standard language, then yes you could classify it as it's own language, but because people that speak it reside here in USA then no, because it is really only a dialect of English

Answer 7

i use slang 24-7 with my mates but if it dont help u get a job then no it shouldnt be a language.

Answer 8

No because it isn't a language. It sounds stupid and if those who talk like that want a job they won't get one. I know white teens who talk that way because they think it's cool. Apparently they don't realize how it makes them sound. They also complain because they can't get a job.

Answer 9

no - it' a dialect - it's sometimes hard to understand English from other countries, like Australia or Ireland, but it's still English

Answer 10

in california, some schools teach ebonics as a second language course