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4-H clover Why youth language is more than just slang

For the last decade, Extension Educator Courtney Johnson has strived to stay connected with youth language. She recently listened to a teen-led conversation that made her feel—well—old! She had no idea what they were saying, and it got her thinking, "Why does youth language exist?" Here’s what she found.

Youth language research highlights

There is a range of research on youth language, much of it occurring in the latter half of the 20th century. 

Some of my favorite research comes from "Research on Youth-Language from Sociolinguistics: An International Handbook of the Science of Language and Society, Volume 2."

  • Sociolinguists — those who study the relationship between language and society — generally agree that adolescence is the life stage in which language change is most clearly visible.
  • According to linguist Penelope Eckert, “Adolescents are the linguistic movers and shakers, at least in western industrialized societies, and, as such, a prime source of information about linguistic change and the role of language in social practice.”
  • Language use in adolescence is also discussed in terms of the structure of adolescent peer-groups and the communicative demands of peer-group interactions.
  • Virtually all studies of youth language draw on the notion of identity in order to explain why language varies during adolescence.

Youth language potentially linked to at least two aspects of development

As identified in the research, youth language plays a role both in a youth’s peer groups (belonging) and within the self (identity). 

Belonging 

According to the Forum for Youth Investment, belonging means feeling like you can be your true self in a group or community. Both Gisela Konopka, a youth development pioneer, and Karen Pittman, president and CEO of the Forum for Youth Investment from 1998 to 2021, indicated that belonging is critical to healthy youth development.

Identity

Identity refers to our sense of who we are as individuals and as members of social groups. 

During adolescence, youth seek autonomy, particularly from parents, along with increased commitments to social aspects of identity and a greater need for connection with peers. However, as with all good research, there are conflicting ideas. 

Research by Dr. Gordon Neufeld argues that the breakdown of healthy attachment is to blame for youth building their identity through peers, and that it is not a natural part of development. His book, "Hold on to Your Kids," describes this argument and is worth checking out.

So, the next time you hear "no cap," "sus," "bussin'," "fire," "pressed" or "POV," you can acknowledge that those words (or the act of creating and using them) may be supporting youth development and likely creating a generation of linguists. And if you are like me, you may also have to Google a few and feel a little old from time to time.

Author: Courtney Johnson, Extension educator

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