Language is a crucial part of our daily communication. Sometimes, we would even use slang! But have you noticed that as time passes, slang is starting to change and often evolves endlessly? Language is like a river—flowing, twisting, and always branching. Then, when did slang begin to emerge, and how does it evolve?

Slang has always been part of a culture. Its roots emerged in the margins of society. Historically, slang was born as a secret language to keep communication hidden from outsiders, serving to protect members, strengthen the group identity, and soften what was taboo in society.  In the 16th and 17th centuries in England, a cant language was used by thieves as a cryptic code. For example, “bob ken” means a house that can easily be robbed, and “scowre” means to run away. The slang “pal” that means a friend or mate is also used in the cant language. 

In the 1920s, slang became a form of identity, rebellion, and entertainment. Slang grew alongside jazz clubs, speakeasies, and rebellious youth culture. The flappers—a subculture of young, modern women in the 1920s who defied traditional Victorian-era social norms called a person cool and stylish a “cat”. Not only that, they would call an excellent or much liked person “the bee’s knees”. In the 1960s to 70s, the slang “groovy” and “right on” were not only conversational fillers but also statements of belonging to a cultural wave such as rock ‘n’ roll. 

Since the rise of the internet, mobile texting, and social media emerged, slang has evolved like never before. Texting needs speed. Therefore, acronym slangs were born, such as LOL (Laughing Out Loud), ROFL (Rolling On the Floor Laughing), and BTW (By The Way). These slang terms made it convenient to make messaging quicker and more playful. Social media has become the platform where new slang emerges and evolves rapidly. “Yeet,” “Flex,” and “Ghosting” are words that have appeared and exploded in popularity in just a few months.

Even in our closely connected world, slang has its own local flavors. Language is deeply tied to identity, and slang underlines this. Different countries have their own expressions, rhymes, and coded words. In Indonesia, they have their own slang, such as “Baper” from “bawa perasaan”, which means getting emotional, and “Cuy”, which means “bro.” In the UK, Cockney uses rhyming slang where “apples and pears” means “stairs”. From here, we know that slang is a powerful tool for social identity. It can show if you are “one of the crew” or not. It also marks differences between generations, classes, and cultures. 

What do you think will come next for slang? How will it evolve further? Now that you know about the evolution of language through slang, the next time you use slang, just know that you are a part of a centuries-old tradition of linguistic innovation!