Want to see the history of words that mean "cool"?

Via.

I ain't gonna follow this coz we wozn't gonna learn how to speak good.

A British school has banned slang in order to improve student speech. 

This is at the Harris Academy Upper Norwood, if you must know. And the staff there believe that not using words such as “ain't”, “coz”, and “like” will help students to “express themselves confidently and appropriately”.

Pupils heard using informal language will be asked to “reflect” on it without using language like “this sucks” or “@#$%!”. (Via the BBC.)

David Bennett is an extraordinary coach.

David Bennett is the coach of the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football team. This video is from his press conference this week. I’m flying to go see his next one.

I am often asked...

...how I keep my slang lingo so up-to-date and convincing. The answer? I read! One of my favorite authors is the erudite Fab 5 Freddy, a man who is a font of fresh and fly word flavors.

From here.

"What's Up?" and Other Illegal Interrogatives

In 2002, Judge Alex Kozinski threw out two claims relating to a disagreement over Barbie and the song “Barbie Girl.” In doing so, the judge uttered words that resounded throughout the nation:

“The parties are advised to chill.”

Well, maybe they didn’t really resound THAT much, but I took notice, okay? The introduction of slang into the courtroom can make for a fun mish-mosh of legalese and lingo. Witness Public Defender David Kennedy, whose opening argument in a recent Maryland Court of Appeals was:

“What’s up?”
Wow! Was Kennedy thumbing his nose at authority? After all, the usual lawyerly opening is something like “Mr. Chief Judge and may it please the court, etc.” But Kennedy was up to something! By beginning with “What’s up?” he hoped to jar the judge and jurors out of their lethargy.

It worked, but not in the way intended. Chief Judge Robert Bell told Kennedy that the correct pronunciation is “Whassup?”

Everyone laughed.

The case itself actually revolved around the question of the question “What’s up?” That’s what a police officer said to suspect Maurice Prioleau outside of a residence full of drugs back in 2005.

In response, Prioleau guiltily said, “I’m not going in that house. I’ve never been in that house.” Subsequent investigating showed that he had been in the house, and Prioleau was arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

But the case has been appealed on the basis of that question. As Priorleau hadn't been read his Miranda rights when asked it, his public defender has argued that "What's up?" was an unlawful interrogation posing as an innocent rhetorical question.

Assistant Attorney General Cathleen Brockmeyer disputed this, maintaining that "What's up?" is “certainly not an invitation to incriminate yourself."

Speaking for myself, I rarely need much of an invitation to do just that. (Oh, and the case was still pending last I checked.)