Slanguage
I'm usually fascinated by the new slang my younger family members teach me. Language has always been fascinating to me. I been speaking French since I was 12 and I've been speaking Spanish for about 2 yrs now. I also try to learn how to say "Where is the bathroom" in as many languages as I possibly can. I love watching the American Language grow (yes, I realize we speak English not American, I'm one of those people who cringe when i hear people say that they don't or do want to learn how to speak Mexican, come on!). I say the American Language because currently I'm not following the progression/metamorphosis of other English speaking nations. Perhaps i should say United States Language... but i digress, and I'm sure y'all get what I'm trying to say.
I've recently heard things like "goon" which i think may have come from Lil Wayne (A Milli- "ok so you're a goon, but whats a goon to a goblin"). Goon means a lame/weak/uninfluencial person. Another useful term I've learned is "juicin" that means having sex. "Kick rocks" that means "Forget you".
However, I've recently heard lots of people here in Memphis, TN (where I'm visiting my inlaws for Thanksgiving 08) say "kill yourself", even (especially) to their friends. "Kill yourself" in this sense is like telling someone "you should be embarrassed". It's often seen as a very funny things to say. Even though I've chuckled at the hearing of this a time or two (which I guess I should "kill myself" for), I think this is a detrimental phrase that we should quickly put into retirement.
Yes. Its illogical to think that someone would actually go and hurt himself/herself if a friend, enemy, or frienemy actually told them to "kill yourself". But think about the psychological implication. Which is "You should be so ashamed of what you said, what you wore, what you thought, that you should feel ashamed enuff to hurt-- Even if only on the inside. Or to feel like you best not do that again."
Also, think of the children who may over hear this. A 4 year old that hears their parent, or sibling say kill yourself to someone, may not be about to differentiate between this silly catch phrase and the literal meaning.
I think language is a very influential part of our society and in our growth as individual people. Responsible people should encourage the retirement of vernacular phrases like "kill yourself" and "go play in traffic" (which means the same thing and is actual seen as a euphemism for "kill yourself").
How important is language to society? Does it matter either way if we say hurtful or helpful things to people of all ages?
(Please be advised that this blog entry will be edited often, so please be on the lookout for updated versions.)
I knew its origin such as when I went bowling with my cousins and she had a strike and I said to her, Yea Boi....I know it is from some song or something like that but it just spilled out from my mouth without me knowing.
Others I just wish would dissappeard such as "that's so gay,"
and I am guilty of using it but I try to avoid it as much as I can and instead I say,
"that's so cheesy or mushy."
"The heart's memory eliminates the bad and magnifies the good."
- Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Love in the Time of Cholera
"close your eyes, clear your heart..." http://www.progressiveu.org/012450-old-and-gold-times-change-my-immigran...
Wow, what a great example of a totally unnecessary phrase. its inappropriate, rude, and ignorant. I definitely think that's one that needs to be retired along with "kill yourself" and the thing about it is that non homophobic people use the term too, ive said it a couple times in the past but ive virtually eradicated it from my speech, instead i say thats so snish-snarded, which i enjoy but i'm still debating if its ok, or if its gonna put me in the realm of knumbskull pricks who are insensitive to others... H
Well, the majority of language is translated by body language and facial expressions. most children key in on these features, and they probably will not take the comment seriously i.e. most children are aware of the phrase "go break a leg" but i have not actually heard of anyone breaking a leg on purpose after the phrase was said.
i wouldn't worry too much about this phrase. i think it provides interesting imagery and even some humor to the conversation.
is that dark?
H
Yes, that is dark...
I like dark. :) and i like you, congrats keanan on that poll last week
NEWAY back to topic, while i'm not convinced that this particular phrase does not need to be watched around our youngins' I do appreciate your example of "break a leg" of course that well wish is usually saved exclusively for the theatre, i doubt many kids that dont know the history of that phrase hear it very much, if at all... so while i think u r the *ish, i say we still need to be on the guard... so go poke yourself in the eye with a fork :) jk
One of my favorite novelists wrote something about how slang can be linked to insanity. He suggests that by using blanket meaningless terms for multiple things could cause a break with reality because things cease to contain separate meaning.
I know you weren't talking about slang exclusively, your post just reminded me of it.
All in all, I think yours is just one example of many such things.
Good luck in trying to stop it!
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
very interesting. i remember when my best friend went insane. ( she's bipolar and actually went into psychosis) She kept repeating certian phrases ( i think this is called word salad) i.e. I is in die, i is in exploitation, and the transparent I ( not eye)
it first was an obession then it transformed into insanity. she eventually ended up in a mental ward for a few months believing she was a radio.
i can understand the link, but I do not believe that is the only link to insanity.
yet again very interesting
Tom Robbins has a crazy sense of humor, and i wasn't suggesting that his idea encompasses the complexity of mental illness. still, there is a little something to it, I think.
If nothing else, slang does dumb and dull peoples' minds.
How is your friend doing now? i am impressed with your use of the term "word salad." Literally, it is one of my favorite terms.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
If nothing else, slang does dumb and dull peoples' minds.
I dont think slang dumbs or dulls the mind, i think it enhances our vocabulary, i think its interesting that you all have gotten on this mental illness convo. My original blog was about the phrase "kill yourself" being used to tell someone they should be sooo embarassed by something they've said or done... not about slang as a whole (i'm not picking on anyone, or accusing anyone...) i like slang, i love slang, i think it helps express by peppering communication with rythm, background, and culture. VIVA LA SLANGUAGE AMERICANe!!!
I am just bringing in a different perspective, not necessarily a collective one. Your post is interesting, and brought other thoughts to mind.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
H
Which is totally awesome, thank you! Rock on... Oh I also used to love to call things retarded, in an effort to be P.C. now i say "shnish-shnarded" its still obviously eludes to retarded, what do you think about that?
a musical term she learned from the Little Einsteins that describes a slowed tempo in music.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
I'm a violinist, so i'm familiar with the term. i used to say that one too lol and in a sense retardando somewhat justifies the use of the word retard, since the root of the word is "slow" retard in french means slow or late. but it still seems rude to me, i know a early child development specialist (she determines if kids are "differently abled" or if they are ready and able to enter kindergarten, and she uses the term retarded all the time, and says its a fine term etc... but for me, esp if u r using it as a putdown... i'll keep to snish-snarded with my close friends :) H
I have been obsessed with mental disorders once she and my brother were both hospitalized around the same time.
She is slowly getting better. She takes two doses of lithium, ablify, and a couple of other mood stabilizing drugs several times a day. She can't go to school, and she is a national merit semi-finalist.
I find all of this hard to deal with, but i can not imagine how she is doing. to me it just sounds like a soap opera.
What about your brother? Is he okay now? I am a sort of expert on mental illness, so feel free to pick my brain.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
well, first i was wondering if the number of medications my friend is taking is normal? I also wonder if sometimes people misdiagnosis bipolar. I sometimes believe she may have schizoid affective disorder.
my brother is taking medicine now ( for social anxiety and for other issues)
i have seen a 360 turn around in him. : )
i have never been a big supporter of medication until those two came along.
i have learned that doctors usually do not try to find the problem, but solve the problem with medications.
While I did study all the sub divisions of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in school, in real life, in the hospital there are really only a handful of diagnoses.
Part of this is because we are a short term hospital. Our goal is to contain and observe, treating if obviously necessary people who are dangerous to their self, others, or are gravely disabled due to a mental disturbance.
Those sub diagnoses such as schizoid type are not relevant to our purposes, and I have been away from those studies far too long to recall the distinctions.
The main diagnoses, regarding psychotic disorders, that we discharge people with are Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Bipolar Affective Disorder, and Schizoaffective Disorder. The other discharge diagnoses are Major Depression, and Depression with Psychotic Features.
Keep in mind, my perspective is not whole. Our job is to work to stabilize in 72 hours. Many stay for up to a year, depending on their history and how many bridges they have burned in the community.
Specifications such as schizoid, are diagnosed by long term therapists who are subject to more long term objective assessments.
With that said, the main thing to consider is that regardless of the subtype, psychotic disorders as a whole respond well to similar treatments, as do mood disorders such as Bipolar disorder.
Sadly, something you touched on, the actual diagnosis is often inaccurate, or is based on a patient's short term response to a particular medication regimen.
Many people are misdiagnosed in hospitals, specifically because of the short term nature of the stay.
Bipolar disorder follows distinct patterns, often coinciding with the seasons. Many people with Bipolar Disorder are misdiagnosed with Depression or Schizophrenia because of the particular presenting symptoms at the time of hospitalization. To accurately diagnose a Bipolar disorder, one must have evidence of cycles with polar extremes. Those extremes when at their fullest manifestation cause people who are hospitalized short term to be misdiagnosed.
The most common misdiagnosis is diagnosing a Bipolar Disorder as Depression, and prescribing something like Welbutrin, which actually exacerbates psychosis and causes such people to find a much worse peak of ill behavior.
The other common misdiagnosis is Schizophrenia for someone who is actually Bipolar.
The challenge for treating physicians is to make the best guess, treat accordingly, and watch and wait to see if it is effective.
Each patient is a new guinea pig. It is not the fault of psychiatrists or the "system". it is because of the elusiveness of mental illness.
Something like Diabetes is easy, just draw some blood, evaluate the levels, and come up with a treatment plan.
We don't get to study brains until after death, other than by MRI, CT scan, and EEG studies.
The main thing to consider when observing a loved one's patterns is to keep track of changes in meds, and to journal increases or decreases in undesired (in our case, dangerous) behavior.
An objective family member who journals instances of undesirable behavior correlating with changes in meds or dosages, provides a treating physician with invaluable information.
Asking psychiatrists to treat the cause is like asking God to save the planet. Medicine is the best we have right now. Therapy is helpful, but doesn't show results for a long time, and requires cooperation from the patient. Once you realize that someone refuses to talk to you because they sense your prejudice, you realize the fear they live in.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
thanks for the information!!!
i know you work in a place that deals with people with mental disorders, so it is good for me to hear this from you.