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Let Them Cook

Generational Slang and University Teaching

Expected online publication date:  21 May 2026

David S. Kreiner
Affiliation:
University of Central Missouri

Summary

Higher education faculty often differ in age from the students in their courses, and these age differences may relate to social and cultural differences. As an aspect of culture, different social groups adopt different slang vocabularies. For these reasons, an understanding of generational differences in slang is relevant to university-level teaching. We explore the nature and characteristics of slang in comparison to other types of language variation as well as the multiple functions that slang serves, both linguistic and social. Next, we examine the concept of generations and education-relevant characteristics that are associated with recent generations. We then connect slang to the concept of code-switching, followed by an examination of slang associated with Generation Z and Generation Alpha. Finally, we consider the implications of generational slang for university level teaching and learning. Generational slang is not just a challenge for university faculty, but also an opportunity.

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Online ISBN: 9781009676090
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Accessibility standard: Unknown

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Let Them Cook
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Let Them Cook
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