FS101.30 Chris Hansen

"Dat beat is wack, dawg. Duz dis homie know whats crack-a-lackin?!"
The language styles we use are dynamic, diverse, and ever changing. The fluidity of language brings to mind lyrics from a Tim McGraw song....yes feel free to make fun of me because I like country music...

"Back when a hoe was a hoe
Coke was a coke
And crack's what you were doing
When you were cracking jokes
Back when a screw was a screw
The wind was all that blew
And when you said I'm down with that
Well it meant you had the flu"

I just thought that was a funny verse....Now on to language being offensive...

While much of what we say may feel perfectly acceptable to us in a certain situation, what we say can greatly offend a bystander. This being said, I think it is interesting to think about language in group settings--- I think that people will find that their language will adapt to whom they are around. How do we adapt to a "known" group slang or colloquial speech? I feel that I talk much more formally when I am around a stranger, than I do with my friends. Seeing as how much of what is said is contextual, I think it is important for us to be conscious of our speech in and out of context. I think that it would prove very beneficially to our community if people would think more about their speech. Even if what is being said is sure to be kept from offense--that transgression still exists whether there is someone (that would be targeted) is present or not. The underlying prejudice still exists...