Sheng goes to the west

Our use of local slang [mostly a mixture of Swahili and English, thus called sheng] has long been frowned upon by older folk. I don't know much about its genesis but it's the way young people talk. It creates some kind of bond and a feeling of belonging, in a group without the authority figures that the vigour of youth inherently detests. Sheng is so advanced and dare I say main stream, that there are even online dictionaries for it.

I am therefore exceedingly happy to hear about this phenomenon [it's no longer a localised issue about (mis)use of Swahili but a matter of the psyche of young people] being experienced in the UK. They call it Blinglish. A mixture of 'Bling' and English, whatever 'Bling' is. As happened here so long ago, the adults are totally lost. However, it's been interesting to note that Blinglish is being approached in a more positive manner than sheng was in it's early days. It's hailed as a "development" of the Enlish language rather than being seen as being restogressive.

I don't keep up with our local slang. Never have. It takes a lot of energy to keep up with, and I'm getting old ...