N***a, Jaedyn Charles Noob, Summer Hawamdeh……………………………………………………………………194

Nigga

nig·ga [nig-uh] noun Slang

N***a

Jaedyn Charles

A term of endearment or slur? Derogatory or familial? These are the questions this term has been shrouded in since its increasing popularity within pop culture and mainstream society since the 1980s. Context and history surround this word in a slurry of controversial discourse, with meaning changing depending on the individual and space. 'Nigga' can be heard over various songs, with artists referring to individuals in both positive and negative connotations. Over social media, the word is linked to different meanings within African American Vernacular(AAVE), being utilized as both noun and general expressions based on the tone and emphasis of specific points of the word. In its origin, the term derived from the Latin word Niger, meaning black. Niger was twisted and reformed into Nigger at some point through the Atlantic Slave trade, first appearing in the 17th century in a port of what would become Virginia (The Washington Post, 2015). European slavers often brandished the new variation and hurdled the term at enslaved people to dehumanize them and further strip them of their identity. Many were unable to understand what cause people would have to want to reappropriate the term for their own as it began to appear in its current form in tv and comedy specials in the 80s and 90s. Hip-hop and Rap pushed 'Nigga' into the mainstream as Black artists began to showcase how the word was being utilized as a term of familiarity and endearment. The goal was to reappropriate the word to lessen the fear and hate felt when it was spewed at African Americans by those who wished to insult and disparage them. Music groups like N.W.A saw the word as a way to push their message forward and get the attention of the masses, while current artists like Kendrick Lamar see the term as a sign of power to an alternate origin of the word (Lamar, 2015). While it has been over 40 years since the induction of 'Nigga' into pop culture and slang, it remains vital to understanding adolescence as it is indefinitely ingrained into most aspects of their lives. Once secluded to the sphere of hip-hop and rap, the word has become mainstream with social media and the explosion of hip-hop within pop culture extended to individuals of varying backgrounds and ethnicities. For adolescents today, the term 'Nigga' is normalized and, depending on their algorithm, may pop up in every other post on their Instagram or TikTok feed.

Understanding this word and words like it can aid us in grappling with how adolescents form and shape their identities. Furthermore, how they understand their relationships with their friends and peers. For Black adolescents understanding this word allows us to comprehend their view of hate speech and how it can affect them. In addition, dive into the meaning and weight they put into words compared to adolescents in the 80s and 90s when the term became common. Seeing the evolution of 'Nigga' in a new generation may finally cement a meaning for it, hopefully not erasing its history.

References for Further discussion: Lamar, K. (2015). i. On To Pimp a Butterfly. Rahki. Smith, H. L. (2019, November). Has nigga Been Reappropriated as a Term of Endearment?: A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis. American Speech: A Quarterly of Linguistic Usage, 94(4), 420-477. doi:https://doi.org/10.1215/00031283-7706537 The Washington Post. (2015, January 9). The n-word through history. Retrieved from Youtube: https://youtu.be/9Yv2BnfbUFs

Noob

Summer Hawamdeh

When studying adolescents and their health, it is essential to study words that are frequently used by adolescents themselves. “Noob” is a word commonly used by adolescents to describe and often tease people who are inexperienced at a particular activity or are trying something for the first time. Although the exact origin of the word is contested, it is believed to have originated from other variants, particularly “newie,” a word first used in the 1830s in the United States and Australia to describe someone or something new (Stevenson & Waite, 2011). It is also believed that it may have originated from the term “new boy,” used to describe British schoolboys starting their first term in school (Hill, 2015). The term “noobs” was popularized in the mid-2000s when gaming became popular and has been since used by adolescents, often to poke fun at people who lack experience in a particular area (Hill, 2015). Despite adolescence being a time of new experiences, the use of this word by adolescents reflects the internalized fear they hold of being labelled a noob. During these critical years, adolescents experience many changes and many firsts. Adolescents have new bodies, new desires, and try new activities. During this time, adolescents usually learn to drive for the first time, have their first romantic love, have their first break up, and have their first job, among other things. Adolescents are new to the “adult” world and this word encompasses their new experiences. As a result of societal pressures that push unrealistic expectations onto adolescents, adolescents feel as though they must grow up quickly. Furthermore, social norms favour experts over learners. Thus, adolescents have a yearning desire to be experts despite being noobs in many different ways. To navigate this paradox, the term “noob” is often used by adolescents to jokingly insult other young people's lack of competence as a way of making themselves feel better. Calling others noobs suggests that they themselves are experienced; making them seem closer in proximity to adulthood. This word relates to youth’s health and well-being because it can be used to explain the internalized struggle that youth experience when attempting to grapple with being novice independent beings. Adolescents fear that if they are inexperienced, they will not belong. This fear is the outcome of the media and cultural norms which perpetuate a false narrative of what teenagers should be like. This can harm the mental health of youth because they avoid being themselves by pretending they are experienced. Adolescents may also force themselves to prematurely try new things that they are not comfortable with in order to fit in. Adolescents should not feel the need to prove to others that they are experienced; this has the potential to negatively impact their growth and mental health. Alongside a cultural shift in depicting what adolescence looks like, adolescents should reclaim being a noob and learn to accept that being a noob, is indeed cool.

Academic source:

Article: A Cultural History of Noobs https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/12/acultural-history-of-noobs/509666/

Non-academic source:

Song: Don’t Call Me a Noob Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_quu68XXHEs&ab_channel=KawaiiKunicorn Though this song may seem strange, it demonstrates the significant impact of the word noob within adolescent culture.

References

Hill, S. (2015, March 21). Don't be a noob, find out what the word really means. Digital Trends. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/noob-newbie-wordorigins/ Stevenson, A., & Waite, M. (2011). Concise oxford english dictionary. Oxford University Press.