The 1990s saw the rise of multiculturalism and alternative media like grunge, rave, and hip hop spread globally among youth. New technology was introduced, including the World Wide Web in 1993 and growing mobile phone use. British culture reinvented itself as "Cool Britannia" after economic recession in the early 1990s, characterized by bands like Oasis and fashion trends like curtained haircuts. Political factors included Margaret Thatcher stepping down in 1991 and Tony Blair becoming prime minister in 1997, while conflicts in the Gulf War and Yugoslavia introduced new terms to the English language.

2. The 1990’s was characterized by the rise of
multiculturalism (cultural diversity) and alternative media.
Movements such as grunge, the rave scene and hip hop
spread worldwide to young people during the decade.
New technology was introduced.

3. Social factors
 1990’s known as the ‘caring decade’.
 Attempted control over access to sex and violence by
children- limiting what they watch/read.
 This lead to changes in the language used in films and
age restrictions given on films and games.

4. Social factors
 As Britain entered the 1990’s there was an increase in
the influence of capitalism and Britain were in
recession.
 By the end of the decade and recession, Britain
reinvented itself as ‘Cool Britannia’.

5. Social factors
 Rock and pop music was introduced by bands such as
Blur, Oasis and The Spice Girls.
 These bands brought new words/phrases into the
public eye through their song lyrics, which then people
popular as people followed the trends.
 The Spice girls also played a part in the feminist
movement, reigning in popularity with the phrase ‘Girl
Power!’
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJLIiF15wjQ

6. Popular films

7. Fashion
 The curtained haircut increased in popularity amongst
teenage boys and young men.
 Slap bracelets popular amongst teenagers.
 Light up sneakers, Dr. Martens and jelly shoes.
 The grunge hype at the beginning of the decade
popularized flannel skirts for both sexes.
 The early 1990s saw a continuation of 1980s fashion:
women wore denim button down shirts, neon colours
and oversized sweaters.

8. Political factors
 1991- Margaret Thatcher stepped down from being first
female Prime Minister and John Major (a conservative)
takes over.
 1997- Tony Blair becomes Prime Minister for labour.
 New words associated with labour were used
throughout the country e.g. ‘New Labour.’

9. War
1991- Civil war broke out, with Croatia and Slovenia succeeding.
Carried on till the end of this century and introduced the phrase ‘ethnic
cleansing’ (the removal of ethnic groups from a given territory, with the intent
of creating a homogenous territory) into the English language.
The Gulf War also began in 1991 and was led by The United States against
Iraq. The British language was soon introducing many words from the US,
such as ‘friendly fire’- an attack by a military force on friendly forces while
attempting to attack the enemy.

10. Changing attitudes
 Independent states in Europe increased from 25 to 40
and the European Community was enlarging itself.
 The European Union (an economic and political union)
was transformed in 1992.
 As countries communicated with each other,
words/phrases were becoming global and added to the
English language.

11. Technology
 The 1990’s was a revolutionary decade for digital
technology.
 Only a few million people used online services in 1990
and the World Wide Web had only just been invented.
 The first web browser went online in 1993 and by 2001,
more than 50% of some Western countries had internet
access.
 Mobile phones gained massive popularity worldwide
during the decade.

12. Technology
 Portable CD players very popular with youth culture
during the 1990’s.
 Tamagotchi invented- hand-held digital pet, first sold in
Japan 1996.

13. Science
 Detection of extra solar planets orbiting stars other than
the sun.
 In the UK, the first cloned mammal, Dolly the sheep
was confirmed by the Roslin Institute. This triggered a
raging controversy on cloning and concerns regarding
possible human cloning, which still continues today.

14. New words entering the
dictionary
 Cybercafe- a café/ coffee shop with access to internet.
 Cool Britannia- a phrase describing Britain in the late
1990’s- approval of pop groups, fashion etc.
 False memory syndrome- events remembered that have
not actually occurred.
 World-wide Web
 Millennium bug- a problem with computer software,
dealing with dates of 1st Jan 2000 or later.