Post by urbanknight4 on Aug 29, 2014 9:59:41 GMT -5
This was an honest question asked by my English professor in college. He asked the class if this slang word could technically be considered more than a made-up word, a nonexistent piece of information.
My argument was that technically, its a word. If it has etymology and a clear definition, its a word.
However, that doesn't mean you should use it when talking to your boss.
You'll get fired.
Why? Not because it's not a word. You could use the word with your friends, and if they know the meaning of the word, they will understand your ideas. Think of it like a speaking another language, only this language can only be used in certain occasions. Your boss wouldn't appreciate you getting all "buddy buddy" with him and neither would anyone in a serious setting. This is because of the way society works. Society demands you perform long, elaborate rituals and memorize etiquette and manners and proper speech not because it's "in the rules".
Language rules were meant to be broken. Well, some of them, at least.
Society demands all these rituals and whatever from you because people like to see that you are sophisticated. If you take the time to dress nicely, speak eloquently, and raise your pinky, you'll end up impressing a lot of serious people. Why? because you took the time to learn all those things in order to essentially show off.
Which brings me to my point. Fo'shizzle is technically a word.
But that doesn't mean you should use it in a professional setting.
Remember, there's a time and place for everything!
My argument was that technically, its a word. If it has etymology and a clear definition, its a word.
However, that doesn't mean you should use it when talking to your boss.
You'll get fired.
Why? Not because it's not a word. You could use the word with your friends, and if they know the meaning of the word, they will understand your ideas. Think of it like a speaking another language, only this language can only be used in certain occasions. Your boss wouldn't appreciate you getting all "buddy buddy" with him and neither would anyone in a serious setting. This is because of the way society works. Society demands you perform long, elaborate rituals and memorize etiquette and manners and proper speech not because it's "in the rules".
Language rules were meant to be broken. Well, some of them, at least.
Society demands all these rituals and whatever from you because people like to see that you are sophisticated. If you take the time to dress nicely, speak eloquently, and raise your pinky, you'll end up impressing a lot of serious people. Why? because you took the time to learn all those things in order to essentially show off.
Which brings me to my point. Fo'shizzle is technically a word.
But that doesn't mean you should use it in a professional setting.
Remember, there's a time and place for everything!
