This week, I heard a side of Mrs. Valentino I could never imagine my auditory apparatus listening to. For the first time in my life, one of my teachers were willingly talking about gen-z slang, specifically very sus ones. Still, I will have to admit, it was a top 3 english class days of all time. Hearing a teacher even speak about something like "netflix and chill" or "do you wanna see my etchings" was almost refreshing – it reminded me that even teachers have lives outside of school. However, what was not refreshing was when my table decided to stab me in the back and yell out what I had purposefully whispered to them. I had quietly told them, "Yo guys, what about this one: I can't wait until you turn 18?" They apparently thought it would be hilarious to yell out "WHAT DID YOU SAY JAYDEN?" Obviously, in that moment, I was seriously flustered – even burying my head into my arms out of embarassment. They then proceeded to tell the entire class "oh yeah he said i can't wait until you turn 18." Luckily, Mrs. Valentino was very chill about it, but the other students were exchanging astounded glances, all the while laughing at me. I just wanted to die.
But when I look back at it now, this very original experience provides a direct example to the idea that words rarely mean what they actually mean. Even though these phrases might seem harmless on the surface level (maybe for new english learners or children), everyone in the room immediately understood what I meant when I said "I can't wait till you turn 18". Just like in "Words Don't Mean What They Mean", Steven Pinker explains that people often communicate indirectly, especially when the topic is awkward, like suggestive language. Instead of stating meanings explicitly, many rely on a shared, cultural understanding which allows for a simple phrase such as "netflix and chill" to hold a much deeper implication.
Sometimes the most powerful meanings are the ones that aren't said outright. THAT is the art of suggestive language (that doesn't mean you should say these things in public though).
Great blog jayden! I wonder who the classmates who shouted out your hilarious phrase the class were. They seem amazing. I like how you tied in this experience to the indirect communication from Pinker's piece.
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