Oh Yes AP Language Blog: Walt Whitman, Mark Twain and Frogs.

Friday, December 4, 2015

Walt Whitman, Mark Twain and Frogs.

In Slang in America, Whitman makes an interesting point when he describes the regionalism of slang. Throughout the second half of the essay, Whitman maintains that slang is part of America but begins to explore various nicknames and slang used in different regions. Read "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" by Mark Twain which addresses the mannerisms of a gold-mining camp in California. Consider the argument being made by both authors and the way in which their pieces support or refute perceptions of slang and the common man.

70 comments:

Catherine CerroniDecember 5, 2015 at 2:58 PM
In his essay, Whitman makes a point also exhibited in the essay by Amy Tan. He points out that formal and "correct" speech is not necessarily the only and most effective way of expressing oneself. While many people look down on slang as a mutation unworthy of usage, Whitman describes it as the evolution of language, the only way that language can be interesting instead of boring, and filled with emotion instead of monotonous. In the essay by Mark Twain about a man in California who liked to bet on everything, and consistently won, language is used for all the correct reasons. It may not initially seem like this man is smart enough to be using language efficiently. However, by looking further into the mans accomplishments, you come to realize the man effectively manipulated people into choosing the losing half of the bet, or even into betting against him after he had won so many times. In this place in California, where slang is used to the point where the speech is hard to understand, Language is used in its most valuable manner. The language is used to live life in a more efficiently, regardless of the grammar type. Amy Tan explained in her essay how the language she spoke with her mother, and sometimes her husband, seemed completely normal to her. She used it as an intimate language regularly, and thought that had her mother not spoken that way, her intellect would be more widely recognized. Both of these stories show that language does not determine someone's ability to think, but rather is just a tool to be used to further this thinking
ReplyDelete
Replies
Allie GierDecember 5, 2015 at 3:58 PM
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Allie GierDecember 5, 2015 at 4:09 PM
The perceptions of both Twain and Whitman support the use of slang in American today with the common man. Slang is used commonly among all people in America. It is used by adults, the elderly, and especially the teenagers today. People believe teenagers influence slang among older people, but slang is not always bad in all cases. As Whitman states, the words we actually use today come from slang and it allows us to show our emotions, so slang overall is an important aspect in our lives of language and literature. The use of slang was vital in word making and we use these words each and everyday. Although slang is an indirect concept, it allows Americans to be free. We become free from the formal, clever, unbreakable English we learn in schools all over America which allows us to just be ourselves. The formal wording we use today makes us sound intelligent, mature, and is truly the right thing to use for our own self to make us more insightful about our culture too. The "slang language" used today should be considered just what the true or correct English language is considered, free. In The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County by Mark Twain we realize the man is using the language correctly although he didn't seem wise. He allows the people to choose the losing side of the bet so he, himself wins. During this time in California, Calaveras County, we come to the conclusion that "slang language" and perceptions were the mans journey to have himself win the frog bet. The understandings presented by both Twain and Whitman allow us to search out the good meaning of the "slang language" which now we know is not a bad thing after all. It allows us to excel.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Kara DetschDecember 5, 2015 at 5:27 PM
The word "slang" always has a bad reputation and negative connotation. People see slang as the incorrect use of language when in fact, can be used in speaking as a break from the high standard we are used to during school that is still correct. Both authors, Walt Whitman and Mark Twain, can both agree with this statement. Americans all across the country use slang terms frequently. The question remains, is slang bad to use? Well, as Mark Twain would say, no. He writes The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, in which the man speaks in slang very often. People think that because he speaks in this way that he is less intelligent. On the contrary, he ends up tricking the other man and winning the bet. In Slang in America, Walt Whitman expresses his opinion on how the English language came to be. He believes that slang is what shapes the English language and creates speech that everyone knows. He also states that because of slang, we have various meanings for a single word, which makes English unique. He thoroughly discusses the regionalism of slang. Without slang sayings and phrases, a region would not be very differentiated by another. He also makes the claim that because of slang, we have complicated and intelligent vocabulary at our disposal. Slang allows us to express ourselves in a way that is relatable. In fact, it plays a vital role in English as a way to change up the language. In reading Slang in America and The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, it is clear that both authors present their views on slang in their own way that shows it is not as bad as it is cracked up to be.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Catherine CerroniDecember 5, 2015 at 5:42 PM
Kara,
I like how you pointed out in your blog that slang differentiates English, although some may say that this differentiation is not a good thing. I do agreee though that slang is what shapes English, and that without it our language would be boring and old.
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousDecember 6, 2015 at 6:24 AM
In his essay "Slang in America," Walt Whitman explains how important slang is to culture and society. Most people believe that slang is improper or incorrect. However, Whitman describes slang as being vital to the development of the English language. Throughout his essay he gave many examples of slang terms that eventually became common knowledge among people and contributed to the American culture after being used many times. In his conclusion, Whitman regards slang as "the start of fancy, imagination and humor, breathing into its nostrils the breath of life." He uses this stamens to once again explain that he believes that slang allows the English language to continue its development and add to the culture of the modern age. In Mark Twain's "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," he uses slang to his advantage. The character Jim Smiley liked to place bets on everything. He managed to win every bet by manipulating slang and using it to his advantage. He makes his competition believe that he is stupid so they will pick the losing end of the bet. Mark Twain uses this story to explain that if you use slang you are not necessarily unintelligent. In this case, Jim Smiley is incredibly intelligent because he uses his language to outsmart his opponents. Both Walt Whitman and Mark Twain use their essays to explain that slang is not as improper as most people like to believe. Slang can contribute to the further development and continuation of the English language along with today's modern culture in the United States.
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousDecember 6, 2015 at 6:55 AM
The works of Walt Whitman and Mark Twain contribute a positive outlook on the use of slang. Walt Whitman speaks of various aspects of slang in America and the resulting of effects of such aspects. He makes a point that slang evolves language, and it is a rather large component to of the creation of new language. Also, he says that slang maintains interest and spice in literature, rather than creating a monotonous piece with no significance or excitement. Walt Whitman's work addresses the significance of slang as a method of diversifying a piece. While slang is not always revered as "grammatically correct," Whitman shows the ways in which it is necessary. Mark Twain's essay also contributes a worthwhile description of the effective use of slang. "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" is riddled with slang that makes it far more difficult to understand, but it effectively communicates the story and provides more information about the way people spoke in the story. Slang words, especially in that story, become colloquialisms. Twain tells the story of a man named Smiley who gambles with incredible frequency. The man is said to have won as often as he makes bets. He makes bets on nearly every natural occurrence as well as every event on which it could possibly be bet. Smiley exemplifies the use of slang as a manipulation technique. Initially, the man may not seem intelligent enough to properly utilize language, but he fooled many in the face of that notion. He manipulated people by getting them to bet against him after he had won countless times or even for things that seemed quite unlikely. The romanticism of different languages described by Marjorie Agosín and Gloria Anzaldúa in "Always Living in Spanish" and "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" is also maintained the works of Mark Twain and Walt Whitman in uses of slang for effective communication.
ReplyDelete
Replies
UnknownDecember 6, 2015 at 7:34 AM
Slang can be defined as follows: "a type of language that consists of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal, are more common in speech than writing, and are typically restricted to a particular context or group of people." We see here that the definition states that slang is an informal use of language. That may be correct, but slang is what has shaped each region of the United States as well as the individuals who live there. Without it, America would not have its distinct and unique regions we see today. In Twains composition, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, we hear about a man who liked to bet. He would bet on anything. This man, who appeared to be uneducated always seemed to win his bets however. People who took him up on these games of chance always underestimated his abilities because of the way he spoke. He talked in a slang that made him seem unintelligent. So what Twain was trying to depict in his piece was that just because you talk with "slang" does not mean you are uneducated. Slang in America takes on a different approach when discussing slang. Walt Whitman talks about how the language of slang came to be known. He begins to regionalize where each form of slang is found, and discusses how it shaped each region that it is found in today. Slang helps to make a connection to each part of the country, and without it the uniqueness and individuality that America has would never have been attained. By reading these two pieces we see that slang is not harmful, but rather just the opposite, beneficial. We can learn from these two great authors that the country is built on the language of slang and it continues to become more and more diversified with its ever increasing popularity.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Really HerzingDecember 6, 2015 at 7:53 AM
In the two writings by Mark Twain and Walt Whitman they talk about slang in America, but it seems to be more than just that. Americans are known for speaking the English language that was originated for the English people way back when, and than from there they developed there own style of language. What made the "American" language was a development of slang. The authors in these two works describe how slang has effected the language in our country and he common man. A thought came to me while reading both of those essays is that slang had developed the American language into hat it is. So, why do some people believe that not being being able to speak perfect English, or any language, make a person incoherent to everyday thoughts or actions. That's what Mark Twain was presenting in his writing about the frog. Even if you can speak a language perfectly, although that's probably impossible, this is an issue that needs to be ripped away from the mind. Negative thoughts can not be established on person who cannot say the word "balance" or "concentration", but could possibly find the cure to cancer. The problem is that no one would know because of the first pass judgement they would make on that person. No one will ever speak perfectly, and the common man cannot be criticized or put on lower scale of life because of how they speak. These two authors were encouraging a thought that slang can be created into everyday norms. The idea of slang should let the unheard be heard, and not the other way around.
ReplyDelete
Replies
UnknownDecember 6, 2015 at 8:13 AM
The essays written by Walt Whitman and Mark Twain both have unique ways of supporting slang. Throughout the language unit there have been essays and stories on the English language, many supporting informal or even slang. In the essay how to tame a wild tongue, the author describes how Chicana, a variation of English and several forms of Spanish, is her escape from reality, back to her memories of her childhood. For her, slang and informal English was her way of comforting herself. Another essay that exhibits support for informal language or slang is mother tongue. In the essay, it is described that people do not talk to everyone the same way, formal English is spoken to professionals, but slang is used with most others. The essays of Whitman and Twain reinforce the earlier essays. Whitman describes slang as a means of evolution of language, also, he describes it as unique. In terms of being unique, Whitman describes slang as different in every area. In certain areas in America, one might not be able to understand someone speaking slang because it can be that different. He also describes slang as a way to name or describe people or objects by listing what soldiers from different areas were called, or names for different professions. Finally, Whitman explains the evolution of evolution of language through slang. Whitman describes the importance of slang and how it influences the development of new words. In Twain's essay, he also describes the importance of slang, but in a slightly different way. In Twain's essay, he tells a story of a man at a mining camp who really enjoyed betting, but it was how he convinced people to make bets that was important. The man used slang as a form of rhetoric, rather than bore fellow miners with formal English, he was quick to convince them with slang. Regardless of the result, he was always betting on something new and could convince the same people, even if he won. Twain shows slang's importance as a persuasive means and a less boring form of English. The essays both exhibit a support for slang, they have different views on why it is important, yet they are still connected. Slang can be used to persuade and without it, formal English will take over and less interesting words will be developed.
ReplyDelete
Replies
UnknownDecember 6, 2015 at 8:45 AM
Often times when one hears the word "slang" they think of something in language that is dumb and something that an uneducated person would use. Walt Whitman and Mark Twain both wrote two essays that changed my perspective on slang. The essay titled "Slang in America" that Whitman wrote was very interesting after you "jumped in" and read it thoroughly. Whitman described slang as a "an attempt of common humanity to escape from bald literalism, and express itself illimitably." Simply he feels that slang gives those who use it the ability to be free and get away from the formality of the English language, and for some this is vital and what makes slang a key component. Whitman furthers his argument when he explains that slang also is the root behind many words in the English language. Some examples of the words that Walt gives are the following: right, wrong, integrity, spirit, flame, and many other words. Interestingly, he makes a claim that the English language did not come from dictionary makers, but by the needs of people (work, needs, ties, joys, affections, tastes). Lastly dealing with Whitman, his statement "[language] has its bases broad and low, close to the ground" is a valid point, because America, as well as every other country, has uneducated people and these people are where language comes from because they need an easy way to communicate. Mark Twain, author of "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County", writes a story in which slang is used. Reading this story, one could read it and think that all it was about was a guy who loved to bet and one who was awfully successful at that. They would continue to read and see that he would bet on anything and everything, and as even worked so hard to train a frog that would be able to out jump any frog in the entire town, but when he puts the frog up for competition, his opponent cheats and that is basically how the story ends. That is not the reason that Mark Twain created this short story, and if he did then this would be pointless. Mark Twain created this to show the relevance of slang and how many people look at those who use it as uneducated and simple people. Although this can be true in some circumstances, it is not true in all, and Twain pictures that in this story. Both works presented by Mark Twain and Walt Whitman help readers understand the importance and significance that slang can have on people, and that it is not that bad after all.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Frank SingerDecember 6, 2015 at 9:16 AM
Slang is often times thought of as being bad, wrong, or improper when dealing with the English language. In fact, the definition of slang directly states that slang is an informal type of language that is not appropriate when being formal. Two great authors, Mark Twain and Walt Whitman wrote essays on the use of slang, and state that slang is not as bad as the reputation it receives. "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," is the name of Mark Twain's essay on slang. The essay is about a man whose English is full of slang, and gets the reputation as being uneducated because of his slang. However, throughout the course of the essay the man who talks with much slang ends up winning several bets against the other people who falsely viewed him as unintelligent. Whitman, in his essay talks about the development of the English language. He also states that all across the country different regions have different forms of slang which help to define the region in which they live in. Slang allows people to make personal connections with the English language. Under some circumstances slang can be defined as being wrong or improper, but after reading these two essays I have come to realize that not all slang is bad, and is actually helpful under some circumstances also.
ReplyDelete
Replies
UnknownDecember 6, 2015 at 10:00 AM
Everyone has their own language, and regardless of whether we speak the same one or not it is all different in its own unique way. Language is interesting and it shows how diverse and evolving it truly is. Slang is said to be a type of language which consists of words and phrases that is often viewed as informal. It is often restricted to a particular context or a certain group of people which shapes where we come from. Each group has their own way of using it which can usually only be fully understood by that particular group. People who use slang may often come off as unintelligent because they don't know how to speak correctly and they cannot be understood by many people because of the way they use their language. Walt Whitman in his composition called Slang in America talks about just his. He talks of how unique slang is in different areas in America. He also states how slang is difficult to understand when it is not your own. He explains the evolution of slang and its importance towards the help of new development of words. In the story The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County by Mark Twain depicts the importance of slang but in a slightly different form. He tells of a man who used heavy slang in his everyday life, and appeared as an unintelligent man. This man loved to bet on anything he could, and was very successful at doing it. His use of slang with the people he bet with caused his success because he took advantage of the optimistic people who looked at him not thinking he was smart enough to win a bet. Slang may not be the most formal or correct use of language, but Whitman and and Twain both show the importance of it and how it has shaped each and everyone. These two compositions show us that slang is not harmful in the world, but rather useful.
ReplyDelete
Replies
UnknownDecember 6, 2015 at 10:36 AM
The term "slang" often times is viewed as a degrading, uneducated language. By reading these two compositions, I realized that it is the complete opposite. Slang is what defines language. Many new words and phrases have become an everyday vocabulary due to this amazing form of speech. In the piece "Slang in America", Whitman progresses through the evolution of the language. It's unique ability to adapt and change has created a new revolution in this country. New names, professions and objects have been influenced by slang. Some examples are; right, wrong, integrity, prophecy, and insult.
The biggest point he makes in the entirety of his essay is, slang is lawless and it assigns ranks to society. Common humanity uses this language to express themselves in poetry and everyday language because people can't really do anything about it. They can throw you in jail for saying something stupid to authority but besides that, it is free. Freedom is what people are looking for. The second point that both authors are trying to express is that slang gives rank in society. Like I said before, this language often depicts people as uneducated. But in reality, these are the creative people. These are the ones who are left behind and try to make something out of life with what they have, their language.
A big similarity that I found between the two pieces was the fact that people were being looked down upon. In the Mark Twian story, the mans horse was the minority. It was small, looked whacky, and was always sick. The only thing people didn't know was that it could run like no other. The situation is the same in lower class America. Because of peoples different language and looks, others don't take them seriously in society. A great way to relate this is to sports. If giant university is matched against a school with 3,000 students, the bigger school eases up slightly. The underdogs usually strike at them hard, and sometimes even end up winning. Minorities and people that use slang are underestimated in our world. The duo of stories portray how these kind of people are taken advantage of. Although it may be true sometimes, the compositions depict how society has tricked us into believing that they are useless trash on the streets. Both of the stories have had a huge impact on the way in which I view our nation, and taught me that slang has had a huge impact on this country.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Zach WortmanDecember 6, 2015 at 10:40 AM
Mark Twain and Walt Whitman both point out in their papers that although it is perceived as a bad thing, slang is a good thing. Whitman says that many of the words we use today in "proper language" were derived from slang. Slang varies from state to state, and the United States is just one big cocktail of slang from all of the different places. Slang plays a big part of every culture, and in every culture there are different forms of slang. Slang is deep rooted in all of English's history and existence, and it will play a part in the future of the language as well. This is all explained throughout Walt Whitman's paper. People hear the word slang and automatically think it is a flaw in language. Slang is often associated with hillbillies from movies or places that do not have very high standards, but this is not the case at all. In Twain's story it is evident that the man used slang to win the bet. The people that he made bets with assumed that he did not know what he was doing because of his use of slang. I do not think that either of the pieces refute the use of slang. They both just exemplify the importance of it. Both essays lead you to analyze the English language more than you normally would. The next time you are using a little bit of slang in your conversation, I hope that these two pieces show you that slang is not improper.
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousDecember 6, 2015 at 11:20 AM
In today's society people are under the allusion that by using slang we make ourselves sound uneducated. The man in Mark Twain's story made himself sound so uneducated when in reality he outwitted the other man. This story relates with Amy Tan's "Mother Tongue." In Tan's essay people believed that just because her mothers English was so bad that she was uneducated. We as Americans have a stereotype that if foreigners do not speak or speak broken English, they do not possess as much knowledge as we do. Mark Twain illustrated this in his fictional story which is his trade mark. Although this man would lose the bet he would talk himself out of the bets to make it seem that he truly didn't lose. Although he spoke with so much slang Mark Twain proved that it does not matter how you say things as much as what you are saying. The most educated person can speak in all slang and still be the smartest person.
I think Whitman considers slang as the birth of a new language. Without slang the English language would not have been started and we would not have had all the words that we do today. With starting a language comes many variations of that language, he discusses how people refer to different towns with different names, this is still done today. As the English language developed many words lost their meaning, or changed their meaning to something differently. States were referred to as different things during wars to help the soldiers communicate, they were given slang names such as "Foxes", "Granite Boys", "Bay Starters", etc. Whitman also points out about how much slang we use when we talk to people in normal conversation. When you go to different places in the United States different people refer to different things, this is because our language is continuing to evolve and change at a rapid pace.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Rachel HerbstrittDecember 6, 2015 at 11:36 AM
Walt Whitman's essay "Slang in America" explains how the use of slang has changed our language, regional differences in the development of slang, and the early development of slang within our language. Even with Whitman's piece, slang is often viewed in a negative light, but it is the evolution of language. Slang is the new words or phrases that fit with current or popular culture. I view the interest in slang as an interest in our language and how it can be changed or manipulated to get the most use out of it. Mark Twain's piece "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" focuses on a common man with an interest in making or winning bets. The piece is written in the form of a story and the language used is very slang oriented. There is a man, Jim Smiley, that talks in mostly slang and seems unintelligent to the others around him, but always swindles others out of money through betting. His use of slang does not mean he is lacking intelligence but others perceive him that way. These two pieces work together quite well because Twain focuses on the common man and Whitman focuses on slang. I think it is fair to say that most common people use a good amount of slang when speaking. It is almost essential, because using formal language is not always the best way to express ideas. Whitman and Twain help us to realize that slang is our language developing and growing with us to fit our needs, it is something to be celebrated, not chastised.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Morgan RenwickDecember 6, 2015 at 11:40 AM
When I think of the word slang, it makes me think of rebellious teenagers who have gone down the wrong path. This may be possible because slang in the English language has always been considered an informal "alternative" for speaking perfect English. While reading Catherine's blog she brought up a great point by using Amy Tan's essay to back up her point. People who spoke English discriminated her mother for not speaking perfect English. But what can we consider "perfect English"? Our language is a bunch of words brought from different languages to create a language because we were too apathetic to create our own. These two writers, Whitman and Twain, were showing that these slang words have not showed up in recent years. They have been a part of our language for hundreds of years. No one is less intelligent because of the way they speak. Albert Einstein, known as one of the smartest icons of all time, when he was a child, he had speech troubles, and he failed his university entrance exam. So, one of the greatest scientists ever known, was not always as "intelligent" as he seemed according to what other people considered intelligent, then ended up founding the theory of relativity. Slang in not only the English language, but other languages are what makes the language unique. You would not talk to your best friend the same way you would talk to your boss. We have created different dialects and idioms for conversations with different people. These "slang" words are what make the language different. Some slang words are considered to be inappropriate at times when they should not be used, but that does not mean slang in language should always be considered unacceptable or a bad thing.
ReplyDelete
Replies
UnknownDecember 6, 2015 at 11:58 AM
“Slang is the start of fancy, imagination and humor, breathing into its nostrils the breath of life,” writes Walt Whitman in Slang in America. It is here that he captures its essence and influence, not only in America itself, but in each and every area across the country. According to Whitman, slang permeates regions with peculiar and distinctive words and phrases, as people seek to find easier ways to interact amongst each other. It opens new doors, that are often forgotten, by offering an escape from the standard nature of language, whether that would be English, Spanish, etc. The characteristics of slang also connote a sense of unity and commonality among people of the same region. Just as Whitman noted, we may not even realize it, but there are many examples of this unity today that started long ago, especially with states and their respective sports teams: Wisconsin, the Badgers; Michigan, the Wolverines; Indiana, the Hoosiers; Ohio, the Buckeyes and so on.
In addition, Mark Twain, in his short story, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, narrates the strange betting habits of a man in a gold-mining camp in California, named Jim Smiley. Through his use of this western slang and rhetoric, he seems to always talk the opposition into accepting the challenge. This is no accident. Smiley's competition perceives him as slow and slightly impaired, which is why they unanimously agree to bet. In fact, one even cheats during a bet and takes advantage of Smiley, probably because he assumes Smiley is too stupid to ever discover it. As expected, Smiley figured out what happened but was unfortunately never able to find the crook. It is amazing to see the effect of language, specifically slang, in daily life.
I think Walt Whitman and Mark Twain both refute accustomed perceptions of slang with the common man. It is usually made out to be a bad expression, a sign of inadequacy and informality. However, both authors explain slang from a positive standpoint. Ultimately, slang has a way of making people feel united to each other through common forms of language, while nurturing the concept of easy, concise, and passionate communication.
ReplyDelete
Replies
UnknownDecember 6, 2015 at 12:13 PM
If someone were to ask me what I thought "slang" was, I would tell them any improper use of a word or for instance my own habit of cuss words. They way most teenagers speak or the way a person trying to learn a new language, these two are both slang but that's not what either Twain or Whitman express through their work. They believe slang is the downgrading of a person for there imperfections when they speak. When a person does not speak right or may have trouble, they are being judged that they are intelligently declined just because they can't speak the same as others. In Twains story the feller can outsmart smiley because smiley thing the feller is stupid because of the way he talks. When I reality he is much more keen and outwits smiley and the frog. Everyone matures differently and learns at different paces and should not be judged for the way the speak.
In reality slang is a good thing, it is the history of all languages. When people say a word incorrectly then it may stick in a different city or nation. American English is a prime example because it comes from almost every kind of language and the slang that has brought us our language is all rooted from early Americans and their slang words and improper etiquette.
ReplyDelete
Replies
UnknownDecember 6, 2015 at 12:22 PM
"Language, be it remember’d, is not an abstract construction of the learn’d, or of dictionary-makers, but is something arising out of the work, needs, ties, joys, affections, tastes, of long generations of humanity, and has its bases broad and low, close to the ground." This is a quote from slang in America. The quote and the piece are both a reminder that language is not necessarily something that is entirely concrete and structured. Language is about expression, creativity, and being spontaneous. While there are certain rules and parameters we have to follow, we should not let these restrictions get in the way of our thinking or beliefs. After all, both of these works had errors in grammar and were not entirely formal. Therefore, I believe that both these works support the slang of the average man. Slang and common terms allow for people to communicate with more comfort, as they are familiar with the meanings behind the words. Slang allows for the expression of creativity that language was meant to impose on people. It lets people get away from the formality and restrictions of the world and allows us to be more straightforward and up front about opinions and topics. Out language is derived from slang. Slang, or course, can not be used all of the time, but our history has shown us the importance and purpose of slang. Mark Twain shows us that we might not be considered wise but we will still be using the language correctly. In Slang in America, it can be interpreted that something the people with the least amount of knowledge and intelligence are the ones with the the greatest ideas. Throughout history, people have done things that seemed extremely stupid at the time, but ended up being a huge breakthrough. In Egyptian times, they started using tools to break open people's heads for surgical techniques and to release the pressure inside somebody's brain. Today, doctors use drills to allow for space when a person's brain swells. People tend to overthink problems. Sometimes the best solution to a problem is simply just trying something different and taking action. That's what slang allows for us to do: to plainly just say what we think.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Mitchell CashmerDecember 6, 2015 at 12:31 PM
Slag gives the impression of uneducated, thoughtless hillbilly living in the Boone county. The authors of the two pieces completely refute this notion. Whitman does not only say slang is a good part language, that slang drives the evolution of languages. Whitman also dives deep into how nicknames are used in the army and other places. Mark Twain tells a fictional story of an intriguing person who used slag to his advantage to win bets. He used slag and old animals that were deceiving to trick people into bets. This vaguely reminds me of the mother of Amy Tan who appeared to be incompetent, while actually being intelligent. Most people in America today associate poor language with low understanding. In this rural community of St. Marrys most people do not speak anywhere close to perfect langue and use slag as often as not, this is especially true. Almost everyone has several ways to say different words, this does not make them dumb, or incompetent. Whitman also explains that some slag has become words that we use today, and believe we are using the word correctly, like prophesy. The common man uses slang all the time, and this use of slang can change word meanings, and breaks the misconception that all slang is bad
ReplyDelete
Replies
UnknownDecember 6, 2015 at 12:40 PM
When I hear the word slang, I think of curse words. The word slang also makes me think of graffiti in the city. But my interpretation of this word has been incorrect. Whitman and Twain both express that slang is the way a person talks, and people talk in different ways based on where they learned the language. Slang consists of accent and dialect.
In the story about the frog by Twain, Smiley is able to talk most of everyone into betting on something with him. This is most likely because of the way Smiley talks, his slang, made him sound challenged. So everyone would accept a bet with him, because they figured that they would win against a guy like him. Well one day, Smiley offers a bet with a man, and this man realizes Smiley's slang, so this man takes advantage of Smiley and tricks him while he is off looking for another frog.
Slang is not a bad term, it simply describes a person's way of speech. People could be speaking in slang if they are from a different area, if they are uneducated, or if they are challenged. Slang is not cursing as I thought, it is a person's language.
ReplyDelete
Replies
UnknownDecember 6, 2015 at 1:01 PM
In both Walt Whitman's and Mark Twain's essays they both support "slang". Slang in todays society is very common. It is very common with teens and then the teens pass some of their slang onto their elders. Everyone in todays society influence one another on the way things are said and the type of English spoken. In Walt Whitman's essay he talks about how the English language is made up of mostly slang. Today people use slang to make them seem smarter, but in Mark Twain's essay the man used slang, but it didn't make him seem intelligent although he was very intelligent and won most of the bets. The main point of both of these essays are to tell us that the English language is all made up of slang words, it doesn't matter what type they are they are all mostly slang. Some of them are used to make us seem smarter while others make us look unintelligent.
ReplyDelete
Replies
UnknownDecember 6, 2015 at 3:06 PM
Both of these pieces show how slang is what makes American English differ from the English that we got from Europeans. Slang is something native to America. Both of the authors show us how slang is something that is unique to us. People who use slang are often thought of as unintelligent or unsophisticated, but this isn't true at all. Slang changes place to place in America, southern people many different kinds of slang compared to people, for example, on the west coast. Everyone uses slang, you just may not know it, this is why people from different areas of the country can sound so different from you or can even be difficult to understand. This is because the slang that they use differs from the slang you use. In " The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" Jim Smiley is considered unintelligent due to the way he speaks, his use of slang, but he is actually a rather intelligent man. He is able to outwit people and win almost every bet he places simply because everyone underestimates him. In Walt Whitman's "Slang in America" he shows us that slang has evolved this country and many things. Slang created new ways to say things and even new words entirely. Both of these authors make the point that slang is not a bad thing, it is uniqueness that takes place in America.
ReplyDelete
Replies
UnknownDecember 6, 2015 at 3:55 PM
The word "slang" normally gives the impression of a word that has been created by people to express feelings, complex sayings, and actions, that common words do not convey properly enough to get the point across. Walt Whitman and Mark Twain both support the usage of slang. Whitman uses several examples to show the usefulness and effectiveness of using slang in everyday conversations. He explains the different ways different regions of the United States use slang terms. He talked about how different people use different slang depending on where they are from. For example, people from around our area say "yuns ", and people from down south use "y'all". These slang terms are effective in connecting of people through language that they have created on their own terms. Mark Twain utilizes slang in a metaphor about a mining town his story of Smiley uses slang that would have been common in that time. Both these writers are profound in their thoughts and writing and they both understand the benefit and usefulness of using slang terms. Mark Twain and Walt Whitman both support the usage of these terms in writing and everyday conversations. Both these authors use complex verbs to describe instances of slang being used in this period in time. Though they both support slang terms they both understand and realize their is a time and place when the usage of such words. Some of these slang words have been able to stand the test of time and stick with the English language as it has progressed throughout the ages.
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment