Spoken Language in TeenagersBy Georgia and Skye

What they are Talking AboutTeenagers’ language changes when they are talking in a formal situation, such as a presentation or speaking in front of an audience. If a teenager is casually talking or gossiping with a group of their friends, their language will be more informal because they will be comfortable talking to people they are familiar with. On the other hand,

if a teenager was speaking in assembly or giving a speech in front of a group of people, their language is more likely to change and be more formal. They will use less fillers such as “like” and “err.” If a teenager is talking about a controversial

topic or something they are unfamiliar with, they will use more hedges such as “I think” and “maybe.” This is because they would not want to offend the people they are talking to, especially if it is a person that they are intellectually inferior to, like a teacher. However, if a teenager is talking about a laid-back topic such as celebrity gossip, they are likely to be less cautious about their choice of words and will use

more slang terms.

Who They Are Talking To & Who Is Listening

Depending on who they are talking to, teenagers vocabulary may become more formal or informal. If adults are present, their language choices may be formal, and the topic may change. If they are talking to a teacher for

example, their language will be formal and Standard English would be used. Slang and informal language wouldn’t be used in this situation such as

‘yeah’ and ‘and stuff’, as they are talking to people with more experience and with more etiquette of spoken language. The subject of the conversation

might be different compared to talking to their friends. Topics with adults could be things such as school, politics etc. However, when they are talking

to their friends the subject could be about the latest gossip for example. When teenagers talk to their friends, non standard, informal language will be

used a lot. Fillers such as ‘sort of’ is commonly used in teenage conversations. Usually, they want to get their point across, so they use a filler so no one interrupts or the subject changes. Overlaps are common

also. This is due to teenagers being comfortable enough around their friends to not be bothered about being ‘rude’.

Similarly, who is listening will affect the language used by teenagers. If they are on a radio station for example, they know that parents, teachers,

grandparents etc. would be listening. Their language would again be very formal. They might use a lot of hedges such as ‘I think’ and ‘maybe’, as there is a wide audience, so they wouldn’t want to offend anyone. They would use standard English as most of the audience would be adults.

Where They AreIf a teenager is at school or in a lesson, their language is likely going to change to be more formal and they will not be as conversational as they would be if they were out with their friends. If they are in a place where

they want to be and are in a relaxed environment, they will probably speak more and they might use more slang words because they do not

have to worry about what they are going to say.