Song Ju Na

Writing for Social Science

First Draft

I have only lived in New York for a total of two years. The only English I have ever learned was proper written English so when New Yorkers spoke to me on the streets it was difficult for me to understand some of the words they were using. I was curious to find out what words are only spoken by the people that are long-term residents of the city and how these words developed. So I interviewed people from New York what they think about the city and the slangs they use. Slangs are only typically used in speech so I interviewed people at my school to get some insights into the vernacular language of New York. I asked about their thoughts on being a New Yorker what they think about being a resident here. I was also trying to figure out how they react or behave towards to having interview as a New Yorker. New Yorkers generally had a sense of pride of the language they speak that has developed over time. The diverse nature of this city allowed for an imaginative evolution of the spoken English language.

I asked some of students who are not busy in my class. The interviewees were my classmates that I never talked to. It was a great chance to get to know each other and talk to them. It was good that I don’t have to be awkward because they are not randomly strangers on the street. It could be dangerous if I suddenly try to talk to them on the street. Also, I did not have to be awkward or nervous when I asked them about questions. They understood my assignment having interview about New York City life and its dwellers. Classmates are the one who I can access and interview very easily. And they are qualified people that I do not take any risk due to having interview. Also, I could be sure that they are New York City dwellers. It is because they go to the City College of New York. I was sure that they know better about New York City than people on the street. It is because they might be tourists who are not related to New York City or who never thought about New York City and its slangs. I prepared notebook to take field note. I have some conversation with my interviewees so that they do not have to get nervous about this interview. I let them know that I won’t take their personal information for other purpose except this interview assignment. I tried to not to stop while they are speaking. Also, I tried to make open questions so that I can hear broad opinions about New York City.

People that I interviewed showed a lot of pride for the city since they were born and raised here. I got the idea from them during interview that they firmly believe that slangs are New York City dwellers’ own language. I could sense that they definitely felt proud of their culture and the language that’s used here. They didn’t seem embarrassed about sharing their slang but rather they seemed excited to share the information with me. Moreover, they were proud of living in New York City too. People usually think about New Yorkers as busy people, and fancy people. So, I could feel that the interviewees, themselves feel they are fancy New Yorkers which means they are proud of staying in city. I liked their interview attitude towards thinking about New York City and New York dwellers.

People I interviewed described New York as a diverse city where language develops faster than any other American city because of the constant flow of people in, out and through the city. Although I haven’t interviewed people from other cities, I also feel that New Yorkers invent new words and terms that then slowly flow into other cities. I noticed that another reason why language develops so quickly here is that New York is very welcoming of immigrants and the immigrants’ native language adds to the development of new terms or slangs use here. Other cultures also have different speech patterns and words they like to use when speaking informally as opposed to proper and grammatically correct English. The words the immigrants brought over, and the words that reflected their cultures, were the natural offspring

Field Notes

Q: Me, the interviewer

SJ: Sabrina J, interviewee, 20 years old, college student

Interview with Sabrina J

Q: What words or phrases come to mind when you think about New York City (or when you think of Manhattan or Queens)?

SJ : Well, I was born and raised here in Queens. I live in Jamaica now. I think we say the city when we refer to Manhattan. Do you want me to tell you about specific slang words we use?

Q: Yes, just tell me any words you use daily or that your friends use.

SJ : Oh ok my friends use a lot of slang so I’ll just tell you those. They say ‘word’ or ‘dead ass’ a lot. Word is used like when we say oh you went there? Word word- like an acknowledgement. And dead ass is another word for like ‘for real?’ we use those a lot. Like this morning 10 bicyclists went past me and I was kike skrrt skrrt. I don’t say that daily but sometimes its very relevant- you know?

Q: Ok thank you. Can you describe to me a New York city dweller?

SJ : Well I think there are two types of people here. The true New Yorkers who were born and raised here, and then the tourists or passerbys. I think most people hate the tourists here, including me. They walk so slow and take pictures at every stop and we have things to do and places to go you know? I mean we don’t hate them but they’re not my favorite.

Q: I see- I’ve experienced some of that with tourists here before too. Have you heard of any slang terms or phrases people use to refer to NYC and people who live in NYC?

SJ : We just say like that they’re from the city. Or my friends who are from the Bronx say Bronx, or Brooklyn and so on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work Cited

2. The People of New York City. (2017). New York City, 1664-1710, 32–57. doi: 10.7591/9780801468926-006

Life in New York. (n.d.). Walt Whitmans Selected Journalism, 187–188. doi: 10.2307/j.ctt20p585k.71