Usage of Slang and Its Role in Filipino Teens' Life

Learning a language is extremely helpful, and it piques the interest of a students teachers and all people. Understanding a group's jargon has a number of practical applications. However, while learning a slang it is not required in some situations, in short, slang is not suited for everyone and in this essay we will discuss why and what role the usage of slang plays in the life of Filipino youth. 

The Philippines has a diverse linguistic landscape, with 187 native languages and dialects, and the two official languages, Filipino and English. Filipino, the national language based on Tagalog, has evolved in distinct ways over time. Tagalog was originally spoken only in the capital city of Manila and its neighboring provinces, but it spread throughout the country through traditional and digital media, local movies, and educational institutions. In honor of National Language Month, the 'Buwan ng Wika' that the Filipino's celebrating every year in August, we've compiled a list of Filipino expressions and slang commonly heard in daily conversations, especially in the capital region. In some cases, a group of slang words and phrases emerged from daily conversations and gave birth to a new type of language, such as conyo, abbreviations, and making a words shorten and etc.

As we will see, having in what we are trying to convey is quite intriguing, especially to people who are not aware, when we used to speak English and Filipino language. It is common among today's young to have diverse word formations, simplify terms, and have or create multiple words with the same meaning. Dealing with such phrases is difficult because it is hard for others to understand what they are attempting to convey. Knowing three or more languages to use and speak as a multilingual is advantageous in social situations and for communication needs. Furthermore, being linguistically diversified or aware is critical when constructing anything that would benefit us as individuals, but our first and second languages are slowly changing. It is due to the youth, as well as other organizations and individuals, who are constantly generating new terms. Changing the right letter or the words depending on how they wish to pronounce it. Combining two terms in Filipino and English, such as 'haba ng hair' instead of 'long hair,' and having each of these phrases have a distinct meaning depending on who is speaking the language, and this is what we call the 'taglish.' Moreover, abbreviated words such as 'Rk' for 'rich kid' and many more are not accurate or widely accepted for some reasons.

According to Reves, H. 1926, where slang comes from is questionable. Slang has been defined by some researchers as the changing of words in dialogue; it comes into sudden popular acceptance or favor, has a meaning, usually metaphoric, which is known by a particular set or class and which constitutes a sort of language that is a criterion for distinguishing members of a group. Slang is ever-changing, because of that it has a brief period of popularity and then dies or interestingly evolve into legitimate speech (e.g. bling, bling, twerking). We can't deny the facts about using slang as it can affects how an individual will behave. In different parts of the country, slang words can have distinct meanings. In one culture, what is acceptable may have a very different meaning in another.

Slang is used by everyone. Some of it is perfectly fine, but not always or in all circumstances. Many circumstances necessitate the use of a more official style of language, just as some occasions, it requires formality so the use of more formal language. Also, slang has two drawbacks. For the beginners, it creates a communication barrier for the uninitiated. Second, because most slang is short and energetic, with a preference for one syllable phrases, it encourages the usage of cliche rather than more exact or proper terminology of the words. Being dependent in using slang can lead to misinterpretation or misunderstanding. That is why slang is not appropriate and it shows to be avoided if neccessary as it gives a conflict to many especially to those who are not using any different type of slang or they prefer the formal or appropriate choice of words. It is rampant among youth as today's become their cue language and I think it has a big impact as it creates a social conflict such as misinterpretation that may cause of miscommunication.

Referring to casual dialogue, such as commonly used verbal obscenities that listeners may perceive as offensive. Some slang words or phrases may be viewed negatively by an outsider if they are not a part of a certain group, like when African Americans use certain phrases such as, “What's up my nigga?” or “You a bad bitch!” and in Tagalog, 'jowa' 'charot' 'anak ng kamote' 'susmaryusep' and many more. Old studies showed many of the negative expressions used by college students are expressions used by others who are habitual users of slang, yet students seldom show originality in the choices they make of slang vocabulary, or in the twists they give to usual expressions.

According to Dela Salle University Manila, the use of slang in communication can hinder to the real meaning of a certain words. Their study claims that language is dynamic because it is open for all changes. Likewise, language is productive and powerful due to the fact that it can be used in any kind of discourse. Furthermore, indirect language particularly jargons or slang words affect the real meaning of a certain word. This study adheres to the Filipino teenagers' indirect way of communicating in today's time. Also, intends to scrutinize the real definition of the words from the Filipino teenagers' perspective likewise, to understand its repercussions. Therefore, it may also hinder the learning capacity of all people on how they are going to used the words properly, it may lead into misconception, will decrease their level of comprehension, understanding and the appropriate terms of the words will be neglected. Using these terms can significantly stifle dialogue. A language barrier between persons or other people of various generations can sometimes be manifested by a linguistic gap caused by slang usage.

To conclude with, slang can be called a dialect of a language if it is widely used. That is, it uses vocabulary that is not found in conventional Tagalog or English. The distinction is due to new terms and meanings. Communication is limited because some listeners may not be familiar with the words or new meanings, or the meanings may be misunderstood. Communication is the goal of language, yet employing a dialect or language that is not understood by all listeners might hinder communication. This limit is useful if the speaker wants to keep his meaning hidden from some listeners. If the speaker wants to be understood by all listeners, this is a disadvantage. Particularly to youth in today's generation, it is not proper to used slang as everyday in using the language, others will understand you, eventually, the evidence suggests that slang should be avoided as it gives a negative impacts. The prevention of using slang in everyday can benefited us in terms of staying in what we should learn, it is about learning the proper languages is accompanied by things that we must used particularly in different important applications. I therefore claim that slang is not good or suited for many however, slang is not bad at all, we should know that learning slang is not appropriate but at least learn how to control it to prevent from being nuisance within as. It is always about controlling than letting you eat about using slang in everyday especially to the young generations. Do not let it happen. Learning languages is not bad yet it has disadvantage, nevertheless we should avoid it if it necessary.