It has occurred to me lately that when I listen to my students, they use words that don't make sense to me. I understand what they are saying and understand what they are trying to convey to one another, but it still doesn't make sense to me. Then I got to thinking, I guess every generation developes it's own vocabulary to some extent.

Examples:
My parents generation- 50's and 60's:
peachy keen
groovy
far out

My generation- 70's and 80's:
Boss
cool
bad- meaning good
hella good

This generation- 90's and 00's:
phat
sick
tight
and the newest one I see/hear- the sex.

All of these have about the same meaning, but are used by different age groups. I am sure there is some regionality (if that is even a word) to some as well.

This is just my opinion and I am sure there are MANY more that I didn't list.

Just thought I would throw it out there for discussion.

 

is hella really 80's? i started hearing that in mid 90's and "the sex" i've only seen on this forum

 

I was hearing "hella" in the Bay Area in the mid 80's, but it didn't hit the LA area until a couple of years later.

I am seeing 'the sex' on other car forums as well.

I just thought it was funny.

 

There's a great thread around here, maybe a couple years ago, where everyone posted thier favourite slang from childhood.

Bookin' actually re-entered my vocabulary after that thread.

 

I remember bookin'!!

 

aaccckkkk...I remember bookin'.

Cool though has transcended many ages, as it was in use in the 30's and is still used today, and still means the same, well almost the one exception being its use in the term "Cool jazz". That stuff sucks as far as jazz goes.

 

hahah.. I remember BOOKIN' as well... I think i was in about 4th grade when i was "bookin 80".

I have no idea what time frames these where, but.....what about

"jump back", "NOT", "PSYCH",

as far as "HELLA", I don't think I heard that until that one episode of Southpark (except for HELLA Headlights), but I live in lameass Pennsylvania.

 

Personally, I love the generational gap in vocabulary. There's nothing that makes me laugh harder than when I use the word "phat" or "hot" in front of my bosses (who are twice my age, I'm 25). They get this glazed, dumbfounded look on their faces like I just grew a second head out of my shoulder. It's all good.

 

I guess this rose to prominence at the end of the 90's, but "dogg" or "dawg", as in "what up dogg?".

 

I heard the word "hella" on South Park. I thought Cartman made that up. LOL