Promoting Vulgarity by Teaching Slang in the Classroom

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
David A. Fein, Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Mark Twain once said, "Indecency, vulgarity, obscenity -- these are strictly confined to man; he invented them. Among the higher animals there is no trace of them." I would like to suggest that we, as language teachers, need to be a little more open to the vulgar vernacular. I use "vulgar" in its original sense -- "common, ordinary" -- from the Latin vulgaris, "of or pertaining to the common people." Essentially, then, I wish to argue that we need to teach our students the use more vulgarity in their speech.

Additional Information

Publication
Rocky Mountain Review, 65.1 (2011)
Language: English
Date: 2011
Keywords
Foreign language education, Vernacular language, Slang

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