The following scene is from the 1995 comedy Clueless based on the Jane Austin novel Emma https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYYoiRBH3PM
Scene Description: Cher and her friends live in their own "contempo-casual" culture and speak their own language (depicted throughout this scene with words such as "jeepin," "outie," and "buggin"'). Their linguistic code gives them a sense of shared identity and excludes those who are not in their group. Cher uses her group's jargon in a public speaking context, and her speech is not successful, demonstrating that language which is appropriate for an informal context is not appropriate for a formal one.
Discussion Questions:
- Identify words/terms used by Cher and her friends that are unique to their culture. Which words/terms were not familiar to you?
- Why do teenagers create new words and/or give old words new meanings?
- Is it appropriate to use slang and jargon in public speeches?
- Discuss this scene in terms of interpersonal, intercultural, and public speaking competence.