Language Does More: “slang”
If you’re like me, you grew up with teachers constantly reiterating how unprofessional it is to use slang, especially in essays or emails. Maybe you even got stuck with one of those old fashioned teachers who thought that using abbreviations was lazy. However, with Gen Z now being old enough to join the workplace, these trends of what is considered professional and what is not are beginning to change.
There are all sorts of articles and blogs out there about how incompetent Gen Z-ers are when it comes to business etiquette. The Wall Street Journal has an article that hooks its readers with the title: “New Grads Have No Idea How to Behave in the Office. Help Is on the Way.” Similarly, from Business Insider, we can find: “Gen-Z is taking courses on how to send an email and what to wear in the office, according to a WSJ report”. For older generations, it can be easy to see these articles and look down on their young colleagues for being out of the loop on things that are seemingly basic life skills. With this lack of business knowledge, Gen Z is more likely to use slang, along with casual, friendly speech in professional settings.
Aside from Gen Z’s lack of knowledge of proper workplace language, language trends are doomed to change, no matter how much pushback there is from older generations. No amount of rules and social structures can prevent the inevitable. Because of this, Gen Z, along with millennials from years prior, have allowed for more room in business to use slang and speak to one another in a more relaxed manner. For example, based on research conducted by Barclays LifeSkills from September of 2023, it is expected that, “...phrases and sign-offs [in emails are] likely to be extinct from the workplace within the next ten years…”. Email sign offs used to be industry standard as we transitioned from letters sent through snail mail to a digital world. After about 30 years of emails being commonplace, however, it makes sense that trends are starting to change. There is no longer a need for a formal sign off every time you send an email. I can’t remember the last time I ended an email with “sincerely”, or anything besides “thank you!”.
Similarly, from the same study, it is also reported that, “In the last five years… over two thirds (70 per cent) of Brits have noticed a change in the way people use language in the workplace. Seven in ten (71 per cent) believe this is due to Gen Z changing the formality of language, with 73 per cent citing they were now more casual in their use of communication across the workplace.” Language trends change frequently in spoken communication as well. It has previously been frowned upon to use slang because of its informal nature, but now the concern has shifted, and the debate over whether to use slang or not seems to be more about whether or not it leaves people feeling left out- or in other words, older generations might have a hard time understanding younger generations if they use slang in the workplace. Linguistically, casual friendliness is in. Gen Z as a whole doesn’t feel the need for outdated business trends- in the workplace, we’re all in it together. There is no reason for the fake formality.
In addition to the comradery that the use of slang can bring about, businesses can also use Gen Z’s internet slang to bring more money to the company. According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, using internet slang along with a brand and product name can attract more attention than standard language. Slang can be eye catching, and can help pander to a Gen Z crowd. Although slang is not seen as proper, it can be useful in the right setting.
The language trends within the workplace will change constantly, along with the language that we use day to day. Every generation has had its fair share of unique language that is created by teens and young adults. These linguistic trends eventually either fade out, or become a part of everyone’s vocabulary, and we should expect the same from Gen Z’s language. Older generations are always quick to judge young people and the changes they bring, but one day Gen Z will not be so young. Maybe a few of our slang terms, like “slay” or “serve” will even become commonplace and be used by everyone one day. I can only hope that Generation Alpha will both receive the same attention as Gen Z, and come up with even more creative terms for everyone to use.
