Appropriation of African American slang 
by Asian American youth¹

Abstract

This article explores the ways in which Asian American teenagers creatively appropriated two African American slang terms: aite and na mean. While some teens racialized slang as belonging to African Americans, other teens authenticated identities as slang speakers. Through close analysis of slang‐in‐use and particularly of the metapragmatic discussions such uses inspired, this article examines how the teens specified relationships between language, race, age, region and class, while achieving multiple social purposes, such as identifying with African Americans, marking urban youth subcultural participation, and interactionally positioning themselves and others as teachers and students of slang. As slang emerged with local linguistic capital, the teens used slang to create social boundaries not only between teens and adults, but also between each other. The discursive salience of region implicitly indexed socio‐economic status and proximity to African Americans as markers that teens drew on to authenticate themselves and others as slang speakers.

Perceptions of Swearing in the Work Setting: An Expectancy Violations Theory Perspective

“…These findings are consistent with the idea that slang and its forms (including swearing) are used to rebel against social structures and are thus inappropriately used by those who are privileged by existing power structures (Moore, 2004). Indeed, adult use of slang, particularly inappropriate use, can reinforce social barriers between youth and adults, and adult ignorance of slang terms may be disregarded or disdained (Reyes, 2005). Moore argues that slang terms can even be used to mock those, including adult users of slang, who are perceived to be outdated, as is the case with use of the term ''swell.''…”

Developmentally Appropriate Practice to Promote Healthy Adolescent Development: Integrating Research and Practice

“…As the need for autonomy increases (Steinberg and Silverberg 1986;Collins and Steinberg 2006), the use of teen slang-changing the meaning of words based on the context where they are spoken-is often used to increase the barriers between adults and teens (Reyes 2005). Depending on the youth worker's personality and relationships with youth, the use of slang may either enhance youth's acceptance or lead to adolescent rejection of the youth worker.…”

The global metastereotyping of Hollywood ‘dudes’

“…This phenomenon is especially evident in Ricco's lexical stylization of Bill and Ted, which includes forms such as aight (from alright), bogus (perhaps a tip of the hat to the film's sequel, Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey [1991]), dog, nigga, phattest, and 'na mean (from you know what I mean [Reyes 2005]). Crucially, with the exception of bogus, these forms are sourced from beyond the film and index African American English (AAE) in general and a Hip Hop identity in particular.…”