Tag Archives: regional slang

“Birdie” vs “WaterFall”

“Birdie”

Context: A classmate I interviewed from Orange County used this term primarily in elementary school. This word is used to describe sharing water from a water bottle with another person by hovering it over your mouth instead of touching your lips to the lid. She said she believes the origin and context related to golfing, as there is the term “Birdie” when you score a hole in one. It is also debated whether or not it could mimic the action of a small bird being fed by its mother.

Analysis: As a child from the valley, growing up in Reseda, California, I’ve always used the term “waterfall.” It was really interesting to discover how much this term can vary from region to region, even in the same state. saying the term “waterfall”, “birdie,” or any other term used for this specific ritual of sharing water can automatically distinguish you from other regional folk groups due to its highly community specific nature. I also think that it’s interesting that the origin may have come from the golf term, since it could indicate that sharing water in what is perceived as a “sanitary” way is an accomplishment, like a hole in one. The other possible origin of a baby bird being fed by a parent is a more literal and fun meaning assigned to this playground ritual.

“It’s brick outside”

Text

In New York City, locals have a slang they commonly use, where they say “it’s brick outside”, which is used to describe the weather as cold. From the informant’s understanding, it came from the idea that during winter, the bricks of many New York homes (since brick townhouses are common in the city) get very cold due to the fact that they have little to no base insulation. As such, the slang is drawing a comparison to say that the general feeling of being cold is similar to touching a cold brick.

Context

The informant is 21 year old USC student pursuing a double major in finance & accounting, and East Asian languages and culture. He is a NY local born and raised, and says that the slang was just something he picked up naturally from living there. I had recently seen a video of New Yorkers and noticed their distinct accent and slang, and asked the informant if he would be open to sharing any New York slang he used.

Analysis

Among the many New York slangs that exist, “brick” stands out to me for its folkloric and regional significance. The origin of “brick” being based on the regional climate of New York and city’s distinct architecture of brick townhouses makes it a perfect representation of the city’s defining characteristics. Additionally, the fact that the informant picked up the slang naturally from living in the city shows the slang has been integrated within the city seamlessly, and is another example of how folk speech can be passed on informally and become a part of everyday routine.

To add, when considering that this slang is essentially a metaphor that compares the weather to how cold bricks get, the way this slang is used in simple, short phrases (i.e “it’s brick outside”) rather than longer simile-like phrases (i.e “it’s as cold as a brick outside”) also demonstrates New York culture, in my opinion. In such a crowded and bustling city like New York, locals are often known to be very fast talkers and this slang and how it is used in sentences match the fast-paced culture of the city.

South of the Mason-Dixon

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: April 2022
Primary Language: English

Background:

The Mason-Dixon Line is a demarcation line along on the East Coast that separates four states: Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Maryland.

Context:

I’ve been hearing this phrase used since I was kid, and adopted it into my own vernacular early on.

Main Piece:

The speaker will make a statement, usually in reference to the superiority or inferiority of a person, place, or thing, and then end by saying “… south of the Mason-Dixon.”

Examples:

“She’s the prettiest girl south of the Mason-Dixon.

“My grandma makes the best pork chops south of the Mason-Dixon.”

“He’s gotta be the biggest dude south of the Mason-Dixon.”

Thoughts:

As a born and raised Virginian, I heard this phrase flung around time after time. The understanding of this phrase is confined to communities living around the Mason-Dixon line itself, as most people not from that region of the United States are unaware of what the Mason-Dixon line is. The phrase is hyperbolic, used to exaggerate and emphasize the statement one is trying to make. Viewing the phrase from an emic perspective, I can say that it is often employed in a comedic manner, often to make disparaging remarks about someone, such as “That has to be the ugliest shirt south of the Mason-Dixon.” The phrase’s meaning and hyperbolic nature is known to all in these regions, so one’s opinion or joke can easily be inserted into the phrase to augment their meaning. Much of the South also has a spiritual connection to the land. Their identities are tethered to the physical nature and landmarks of their home. This may be due to residual sentimentality over the Civil War and the lives lost on the battlefields in the South. Nevertheless, there are a multitude of phrases and bits of lingo in the South that pertain to landmarks and the features of the land that Southerners inhabit. While the Mason-Dixon itself isn’t necessarily in the South, the use of this phrase intrinsically identifies one as belonging to the South.

“Way Nuff”: Rowing Slang

Nationality: American
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: Columbus, OH
Performance Date: April 30, 2021
Primary Language: English

Main piece: There are a lot of terms in rowing that are kind of – I wouldn’t say “outdated” but they are kind of outdated, and they don’t really make sense – um, especially in a modern context, and with the technology we’re using now. Because a lot of the terms we use come from shipping and sailing and stuff like that, which obviously isn’t very relevant now, but it’s kind of stuck around. So like, instead of saying “stop” when we want the rowers to stop rowing, we say “weigh enough” (how much you weigh and then enough), so people will say that like “way nuff” or “way off” and that just kind of like dialect and where you are in the country. Because what terms you use sometimes differs from what country you’re in and [in the United States] what part of the country you’re in. So for example, I say “way nuff” because I’m from the East Coast, but a lot of people from Ohio will say “way noff” like that’s enough. 

I think it’s cause it’s just pretentious. Cause rowings’ pretentious. It’s kind of like traditionally a rich white sport, rowing isn’t accessible to many people cause you need to be by water, you need to be able to afford boats which are tens of thousands of dollars, literally. And then oars are expensive. The coxswain technology, like speakers and microphones, those are also very expensive. So it’s very expensive to start rowing. And then there are membership fees and stuff. So the whole thing is very classist. So I think that’s why a lot of the language is still outdated. And there’s a part of “if you know, you know” so like rowers will be talking about these different terms and terminologies in stories and things and unless you’ve rowed you won’t know what they’re saying and it’s kind of like a club. 

Background: KP is a sophomore coxswain for The Ohio State University rowing team. After coxing competitively in Maryland clubs for four years, she was recruited to cox at Ohio, which she has now done for two years. KP is a Korean-American woman, who would not describe her financial situation as affluent. 

Context: When asking KP about different rowing traditions, she dropped multiple slang terms, such as “unis” and boating terms such as “port” and “starboard”. When she finished recounting the story, I asked her about different terms she uses as a coxswain. She then prefaced her explanation of “way nuff” with the clarification that these things are often outdated. I then asked her why she and other rowers would use outdated terminology. 

Analysis: KP seems to believe that using this kind of terminology is for the purposes of exclusion, to isolate non-rowers as a part of its classist history. Even as rowing as a sport has largely moved away from those origins (especially on the non-competitive collegiate level, where anyone can participate), she finds that in the competitive rowing world, those kinds of terms are still used. However, this slang, as she says with “it’s kind of like a club”, also serves to bond the rowers who are in the know closer together, as they are able to tell stories and use slang terms without taking the time to explain themselves. Additionally, these slang terms can also be taught to new rowers or those who are entering the sport, and serve to cement those who are members, as they are then able to use the terms. Or, as KP said, “if you know, you know”. 

Southern California Slang: “Hesh”

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los angeles
Performance Date: March 4, 2020
Primary Language: English

Main Piece:

Interviewer: What does Hesh mean?

Informant- It’s a casual word I use when talking about a vibe or aesthetic. I would use it as an adjective to describe someone or their Instagram. It means that someone has a causal aloof style and vibe. Like they don’t really care or have a skater look to them. Someone who is hesh is down to earth and goes with the flow. Usually, they never look into the camera in pictures or post photos of aesthetic things. 

Interviewer- Does it describe people and places? How would you use it?

Informant-  It describes a person and their style, not a place. I would say, “ She is so chill and has a hesh vibe.”

Interviewer- Who do you use the word with? Would some people not understand you? 

Informant- I only use the word with my friends and feel people on the eat coast wouldn’t understand it. 

Background: The informant shares that she used the word frequently in casual situations with her southern California friends. She learned the word from her southern California friends.  The word represents a style and aesthetic of a casual skater vibe. The word is an adjective used to describe the character of a person. She likes to repeat the word because it describes a characteristic that other adjectives don’t capture. She explains that she and her friends all understand what it means and communicates. It is an esthetic that she and her friends strive to have. 

Context: The interview above was taken in a casual setting as the informant recalling times using the word hesh. 

Thoughts: The word ‘Hesh’ is a slang used in with young adults in Southern California. The slang word describes a vibe and character that other words can not. This aspect brings exclusivity to the group that uses the word. The aesthetic of Hesh has positive connotations and is a popular ‘cool’ term. The word has original roots from the 1980’s LA skater community and subcultures.  From the informant’s description, the term also carries a digital aspect applying to social media platforms like Instagram. She describes Instagram aesthetics that strive to be hesh with their posts.