Slang has her, like, totally bummed

  • Julie Muhlstein / Herald Columnist
  • Thursday, October 19, 2000 9:00pm
  • Local News

Hel-lo. Look what I did. I know better.

Yet there it was, in a recent column for all to read: "I hear you," I wrote.

It’s bad enough — or should I say lame enough? — that I pepper my speech with every inane catch phrase of the day. Now I catch my slang leaching onto the printed page.

That’s, like, not something I want to happen. Hear what I’m sayin’?

For some time I’ve been bugged, ‘scuse me, I have been vexed by the way I talk. My liberal use of slang belies my intellect. I’m smarter than I sound. I think. I hope. Hear what I’m sayin’?

I hang out with kids, ‘scuse me, I spend a lot of time with teen-agers. Some of their stuff rubs off, and I don’t mean Clearasil or an affinity for Eminem.

Dude, their words rub off. Totally.

That’s how I find myself, in a grown-up meeting or interview, wanting to crawl under a rock when I hear "what-EVer" or "hel-lo" pop out of my mouth. I might as well be reading from the "Clueless" movie script. Two years ago, I would sooner have died than employ the slang use of "sucks." Now, every so often, I use it. And I hate it.

Other legitimate words are creeping into the language with vague new meanings. Think about it the next time you hear "exactly" or "don’t go there."

"Exactly" means precisely. It isn’t incorrect to use it instead of "I agree." But every time? All the time? Members of the Toastmasters International group are aware of "um" counters in their audience. When they speak, the counters help keep their prepared talks filler-free.

What if we put an "exactly" counter in every office and schoolroom?

Filler words are pet peeves for Anna Kruse, a speech and English teacher at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.

"That’s one of the major things I grade on as the kids start giving their speeches," Kruse said. "Like, um and uh, anyways, kinda and stuff; different people use different ones."

Is Kruse an offender?

"I use OK a lot when it’s time to make a transition in the classroom. ‘O-kay,’ I’ll say. It’s not really OK at all," she said.

I begged Kruse for free advice. I’d like to sound at least as articulate as her high school students.

"The best trick is to know what you want to say. People who don’t know what they want to say feel compelled to fill in the space while they think, to sound like they’re still on. It’s a habit we get into conversationally to hold the floor."

Hmm. I need to know what I want to say. That’s easier said than done. Definitely.

The birthplace of a catch phrase is often commercial. The hot nonexistent word of the moment is "whassup," from the Budweiser beer ads.

In a Detroit Free Press article, pals Paul Williams and Fred Thomas claimed they greeted each other with "whassup?" for 15 years before appearing in the commercials. Now, they’re basking in their 15 minutes of fame.

Wait a couple years. Whassup will be as tired as comic Steve Martin’s "excuuuuuuse me," from his old "Saturday Night Live" gag, or as overused as "mother of all (fill in the blank)" from the days of the Persian Gulf War.

Back in high school, Kruse tried adding a slangy ingredient to the language pot.

"I’ve told my students about it," said Kruse, who graduated in 1968. "A beer company in the Midwest somewhere had a label out that said ‘Don’t Be Bitter.’ My father brought home a tag that said ‘Don’t Be Bitter’ on it, and I stuck it on my locker. I told my friend, ‘Let’s just get people to say that.’

"Every time we talked to anyone, we said ‘don’t be bitter,’ and within two days everyone was saying it. I went to a school on the south side of Chicago, there were 1,800 students. It swept the school in two days. It just took off. It’s very easy to start stuff like that, it’s all word of mouth."

Don’t be bitter. I like it.

I wonder if anyone back in Chicago thought to tell the future speech teacher, "You go, girl."

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

x
Edmonds police shooting investigation includes possibility of gang violence

The 18-year-old victim remains in critical condition as of Friday morning.

Outside of the updated section of Lake Stevens High School on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020 in Lake Stevens, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lake Stevens, Arlington school measures on Feb. 11 ballot

A bond in Lake Stevens and a levy in Arlington would be used to build new schools.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Lake Stevens Sewer District wastewater treatment plant. (Lake Stevens Sewer District)
Lake Stevens sewer district trial delayed until April

The dispute began in 2021 and centers around when the city can take over the district.

A salmon carcass lays across willow branches in Edgecomb Creek on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Tribes: State fish passage projects knock down barriers for local efforts

Court-ordered projects have sparked collaboration for salmon habitat restoration

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.