Twentieth Century Language Change

1. 1960s

2. Context
• The 1960s was a period of massive social upheaval in reaction to what many saw as the cosy,
staid 1950s
• Many political movements gained ground in the 1960s including the feminist movement,
civil rights, anti-colonialism, black nationalism, anti-racism, and anti-war
• Consequently, language was used as a badge of honour to signify membership of particular
groups

3. Hippie
• The word “hippie”, although originating in the 1950s, became commonplace in the 1960s.
• A corruption of the word “hipster” which in turn derived from the African-American word
“hip” or “hep”, arguably derived from the Wolof word “hepicat” meaning “one who has his
eyes open”
• These words all refer to somebody that was fashionable and up-to-date with the latest trends
• Originally used to describe Greenwich Village beatniks, came to describe bohemian youths
that experimented with drugs, listened to psychedelic music and were sexually promiscuous

4. Groovy
• Synonymous with the ‘60s, this word actually originated in the
nineteenth century (1853) as a music-related word but was first used
as an adjective in the modern sense (“excellent”, “great”, “cool”) in
1941
• Coined by the jazz subculture and came to be used by youths in the
‘40s
• Was used by hippies and became spoofed by characters such as
Austin Powers

5. Toke
• Unsurprisingly, many drug-related words were coined or became common in this era
• “Toke”, referring to smoking marijuana originated in the 1950s but became widespread in
the 1960s
• Of unsure etymology, possibly from the Spanish infinitive verb “tocar”, literally meaning “to
touch” or closer to the English verb “to hit” as in to take a hit
• Again, associated with the hippie subculture

6. Square
• Word referring to people that weren’t hip
• Again, originated before the ‘60s but became common in the ‘60s
• Derived from the idea that squares, being equal on all sides are honest and straight, the jazz
culture changed this from a compliment to an insult
• Hippies were part of the counterculture and therefore saw anything that was straight as
conservative and out-of-touch

7. Gas
• Used in the context of “it’s a gas” meaning something’s a lot of fun became popular during
the 1960s
• Uncertain origin – first used in the sense of fun in Irish English in a 1914 Irish story
collection
• “a gas” became common in jazz circles during the 1950s and then became used by the hippie
culture in the ‘60s
• Popularised by the Rolling Stones in their track “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”

8. Pragmatics of ‘60s slang
• As alluded to in “square”, much of the slang of the ‘60s related to the political landscape.
• Also a strong emphasis on being socially aware and part of the counterculture
• The hippie culture was a catch-all for people from the feminist, civil rights, pacifist and anti-
racist movement
• Use of these words was a way of demonstrating belonging to this group