Topical Issues in Language

Should slang be banned?

I would like to inform you on my linguistic point of view as I strongly believe that slang should not be banned. Writer and broadcaster, Lindsay Johns argues strongly against my views on the topic, supporting the ban on slang, as he states that ‘language is power’. I strongly disagree with the very reductive and cliché turn of phrase. There is no officiant way to determine the power or ‘authority’ of a person, just as Michael Rosen states it could just as easily be argued the way to proclaim authority would be money as wealth gives corporations and people the power to do good within society. 

One topic mentioned within the debate between Johns and Lindsey was if a person can be bidialectal. When in pressured situations, such as a job interview where a person is expected to conform to the regularity of punctuality and grammar, a person may feel under pressure and subconsciously slip into ‘comfortable’ and ‘bad’ habits of speech. This may harshly effect their future opportunities if not dealt with efficiently. When a person uses a form of slang, whether it be racial, geographical, or class related that person should be free to express themselves in this way, and continue exploring in depth where the commonly used words come from and the history behind them. As Michael Rosen argues, William Shakespeare himself, used the slang word ‘cous’ within one of his most famous plays, expressing that using a form of slang doesn’t limit your chances, it explores your individuality and creativity.

Banning slang in schools is a very controversial code of conduct being enforced by schools such as Manchester Academy. Benjamin Zephaniah, a well-known Jamaican-British writer, famous for writing poems with the deliberate use of slang to convey his view on society and how his thoughts and feelings are pigeon holed, had visited the school in Manchester to hear the views and opinions of the students who’s right to use slang words had been taken.  Although the principle at the Manchester Academy is pleased as since the 2007 ban on slang, they have seen a ‘5% improvement with exam results’. One student felt she was being ignored again and again once she began using the ‘formal’ language, so deliberately used words from the ‘forbidden thesaurus’ just to be heard, which resulted in this girl receiving a devastating De-Merritt from the school system.

In one debating clip between Frances Gilbert, and David Lammy MP, perceives the men discussing whether or not we should enforce children in schools how to speak properly. I believe this is an impossible aspect to control! The children’s way of dress is already determined by the school to convey how all pupils in the hierarchy of the school are equal, so why enforce a rule which has been stated by Lindsay Johns can define ‘power?’ As Gilbert states within his side of the debate you cannot change a person’s speech, without their emotional state being influenced. This is evident within the film ‘My Fair Lady’, as she was taught how to become an elegant duchess, however she became deeply saddened and felt she had lost her identity. How can we be sure this will not happen to the children in schools once their right to speak freely is removed?!

The only aspect which should be removed by schools is a child’s limitations! Children should be confident within their social class, gender, social group, ethnicity, etc. as our school system should not ‘pigeon hole’ them for using slang. Slang is used in everyday life. Even stated by Ann Widdecombe it is even used by respected and well educated politicians in casual coffee rooms! Therefore there is no strong evidence that suggests using slang appropriately will affect any of your goals or ambitions in life.