Grammar Puzzles Solved (5): Is ‘ain’t’ considered correct English? Can you provide other examples of slang that have been incorporated into standard English?

Q: Is ‘ain’t’ considered correct English? Can you provide
other examples of slang that have been incorporated into standard English?

Slang words in standard English

Slang words in standard English

Answer: The word ain’t is often considered
nonstandard English, though it is widely used in informal speech and some
dialects. It originally emerged as a contraction for am not, is not,
and are not, but over time, it has also been used for have not
and has not. While it appears in literature and spoken language, it is
generally avoided in formal writing and speech.

Examples of Slang That Have Become Standard English:

Many slang words have transitioned into standard English
over time. Here are a few examples:

1. OK
   – Originally slang from the 19th century, now universally accepted.
2. Cool
   – Once considered slang for fashionable or good, now
   standard.
3. Hangout
   – Formerly slang for a place to socialize, now widely accepted.
4. Gonna
   – A contraction of going to, still informal but very common.
5. Kid
   – Originally slang for child, now standard.
6. Jazz
   – Once slang for excitement or energy, now a widely accepted term for the
   music genre.
7. Movie
   – Shortened from moving picture, originally slang but now standard.
8. Phone
   – Shortened from telephone, once informal but now fully accepted.
9. Freak
   out – Once slang for becoming emotional, now commonly used.
10. Robot
    – Once a science-fiction term, now a standard word in technology.

How Slang Becomes Standard English

Slang often starts as informal or regional language and
gradually gains wider acceptance due to cultural shifts, media, and frequent
use. The process usually follows these stages:

1. Emergence
   – A word is created in informal settings, often by specific social groups.
2. Adoption
   – It spreads through casual speech, literature, music, or media.
3. Recognition
   – Dictionaries begin acknowledging it as informal or colloquial.
4. Standardization
   – It becomes widely accepted in spoken and written English.

More Examples of Slang Becoming Standard English

Words from the 18th & 19th Centuries

• Bite
  the dust – Once a slang term for die, now a common idiom.
• Gumption
  – Originally meant intelligence in Scottish slang; now means initiative
  or courage.
• Booze
  – Originally a slang word for alcohol, now widely accepted.

Words from the 20th Century

• Jive
  – Originally jazz slang, now means deceptive talk or lively
  conversation.
• Hassle
  – Once slang for trouble or difficulty, now standard.
• Groovy
  – Popularized in the 1960s, now standard for stylish or cool.
• Nerd
  – Initially a slang insult, now a common term for an intellectual or
  tech-savvy person.
• Dumb
  – Originally meant mute, but slang use for stupid became
  standard.

Modern Examples (Late 20th & 21st Century)

• Selfie
  – Started as internet slang, now in dictionaries.
• Binge-watch
  – Once informal, now a recognized term.
• Unfriend
  – Gained acceptance due to social media.
• Spam
  – Originally slang for unwanted email, now standard.
• Cringe
  – Used in internet slang for embarrassing behavior, now widely
  accepted.