Blackspeak
Modern linguistic theory acknowledges the basic fact that languages change over time. They are not static entities with vocabulary, grammar and syntax “written in stone,” so to speak. In fact, linguistic theorists now liken the malleability of language to evolutionary genetics, where changes (mutations) happen with some degree of regularity, such that it is possible to determine expected time lines for such changes.
Numerous factors may cause language to change: evolving social factors (when, for example, did the adjective “gay” become synonymous with homosexuality?), new technologies (when did the term “application” switch from referring to a written form filled out by prospective job applicants, to computer software that functions as a user shortcut), advances in science (the term “gene splicing,” for example, did not even exist before 1971), transplants from other cultures (French terms like “rendezvous,” German terms like “angst,” or Spanish terms like “aficionado” are regularly spoken in English) as well as from interaction with migrant peoples (for example, the Taco Bell slogan: “Living Mas” uses a Latino term “mas” that means “more” to Spanish people but the phrase is now commonly understood by us gringos to mean “living large”).
Now, given that language is a changing and evolving thing, it also appears that there are certain promoters or catalysts of linguistic change. Over the course of my lifetime, it looks like black culture is one of those major catalysts. This is the reason I’ve titled this essay “Blackspeak,” which is my own neologism for the linguistic effects of black culture. And, in fact, black culture even has it’s OWN neologism for this concept: “Ebonics!” So, let’s look at some examples.
Going back to the 50’s, many of the terms appropriated by the counterculture of the day (“the Beatnicks”) were borrowed from black culture: “cool, man”, “daddy O,” and “ya dig,” to name a few.
Going into the 60’s this process continued. Touched with a pastiche of political activism was the ubiquitous “right on!” (Curiously that affirmative expression subsequently morphed, in the 90’s, to sayings like: “you go girl!,” that have the same meaning applied to a different situation). Another term from black culture that exploded everywhere across our nation in the 60s is “rock and roll.” Although some people may know that the term “rock and roll” was first applied to fast paced and lively popular music by Cleveland DJ Alan Freed in the 50’s, many people are startled to learn that that phrase originated in black culture and was initially slang for sexual intercourse!
Then in the 70’s, a blackspeak HOLIDAY emerged! Although many people might assume that term “Kwanza” was a traditional African holiday, the term was actually AMERICAN and was coined in the 60’s by a University of California activist Ron Karenga. Mr. Karenga used the term to mean “first fruits,” which certainly SOUNDS like it would be a traditional African holiday. However, prior to Karenga’s invention it was NEVER spoken or heard anywhere!
Then in the 80’s, black culture managed quite a trick: it totally reversed the meaning of a word to its exact opposite! The word that was reversed? You guessed it: BAD! Yes, that’s right: BAD. Apparently, with the wave of a magical “linguistics wand,” “BAD” suddenly became GOOD. Or desirable. Or, at the very least, “COOL!” And this switcheroo was immortalized by the Michael Jackson album released in 1987, titled, of course, “Bad.”
During the 90’s another word from black culture emerged: “chill.” At first it was simply a verb indicating, basically, to “calm down,” or, perhaps, “relax.” But, since calmness under pressure is usually thought to be a desirable attribute, the term “chill” came to be an adjective indicating approval: “that movie was chill,” for example.
In the “aughts” a black euphemism for “derrière” made the rounds. What was the euphemism? It was, quite simply “back,” as in “Baby’s Got Back,”’which was actually the name of a movie.
And, here we are in the 2020’s with yet ANOTHER phrase from Blackspeak:
“I got you!”
The recent popularity of this phrase is what, initially, got me thinking about this subject. I particularly like it because it has two, often complimentary, meanings side by side:
1: “I UNDERSTAND you.”
2: “I’ll do what you’re asking.” or “I’ll take care of what you need.”
I especially like this because, many times, both meanings apply.
So, with black culture leading the way in the development of that most important human invention, language, I say: “RIGHT ON!”