(May 24, 2011) — “Ey bro, wanna kick it?” said sophomore Joseph Bayaslyan as he invited his friend to go out on a Friday night. Bayaslyan is one of the many students at Clark who make up a population of slang users. Slang is often used among teens. “Slang is kind of like young people’s language,” Bayaslyan said. According to an article from Pembroke, in order for an expression to become slang, it must be widely accepted and adopted by members of the subculture or group. The sometimes inappropriate language can be associated with unfavorable groups. However, many teens have become accustomed to slang being a part of their everyday vocabulary. With slang being as infamous as it is, it provokes mixed feelings and emotions from adults. “Prescriptive guardians of standard English and morality bemoan slang’s ‘degrading’ effect on public discourse and culture,” said Tom Dalzell in an article on the PBS website. “Their outcry further attests to slang’s persistent and powerful presence in everyday American English.” Psychology teacher Diana Jaynes said she finds the teenage use of slang understandable. “It’s a normal part of the teen subculture to use slang.” Jaynes said. “Since after World War II, it’s just normal for teenagers to want to have an ownership over their language.” Although adults sometimes portray slang as an invalid form of speaking, many students believe that it is nothing but a harmless and fun form of speech — as opposed to the English they are told to use every day. Internet websites such as Urban Dictionary, a web-based dictionary of slang words and phrases, are sources of new slang terms available to teenagers today. Today’s media allows for more acceptance of slang among teenage students. With mass media being widely publicized, it is not hard for slang to have a large influence on the lives of many. Actors, singers and rappers alike have, over time, not only made slang use acceptable among the youth, but have created a need for it. “Slang isn’t really a big deal,” said senior Daniel Jarasa. “It’s common among kids now. Rappers use them and that’s what kids like: slang, bad words, drugs. I’m not trying to promote them, but let’s face reality.”