Draft

Born in Long Island raised in Brooklyn, New York on April 18, 2002. As you can see, I am New Yorker. Though my parents are from Haiti and my Dad is half Dominican. I did 15 years of being in school and I am still currently in college.  Throughout the years being in New York City I learn so much about the people around me or just people in general. This includes friends, neighbors, strangers, teachers or anyone. I learn so much that I even began picking up things from my surroundings. Everyone is different and brings out a different energy. I learn even more when I started taking buses and trains by myself to go to school or hang out with my friends. Growing up in New York City you learn the way people talk to others. It can be to anyone, but we understand when its appropriate to talk like that and when it isn’t. For example, you wouldn’t want to talk slang at an interview, professors, a meeting or just anything that’s important that should be handle in a professional manner.

Slang is an informal language that is used when spoken and in writing between people who belong to the same social group. It refers to particular words and meanings. “Bet” is a common slang word used in my discourse community. A discourse community is a group of people who share a set of discourse, assumptions, and ways of communicating about those goals. “Bet” is not only used as an informal slang word. It is a dictionary word meaning an act of risking something, usually a sum of money against someone’s else on the basis of the outcome of a future event, such as the result of a race or game. Others may use the word to agree with someone or something saying, “You bet!” as an affirmative exclamation. Basically, your saying “Yes, indeed” but I do think that expression was used back in the day. In my community the slang “bet” been out before I was born but since I’m here today my community taught me, and I happen to adapt to the slang. “Bet” is word that can be used for many meanings. It is replaced with the word “Ok”, “Alright”, “Sure”, “Agree”, “Cool”, or “Yes” but it can be also used as a response when someone challenges you instead of saying “watch” or “we’ll see”. You can also use the word to say you bet someone that something is true or will happen meaning you are positive that it will or is going to happen. It’s also used for a response to a statement. So, the other person knows that you understand and acknowledge.

Bet can also have a negative meaning depending on your context and tone. Like in a sarcastic tone it can expresses doubt, disagreement, disbelief, or judgement. For example, your friends say, “I’m going to steal her boyfriend” and you say, “I bet” meaning you know your friend is not going to do that because you don’t believe her. I currently still use the word “bet” it seems more better than the regular boring words. It brings out a different tone when u say it especially through text. I recently texted “bet” to someone earlier and the text I sent was “I bet you say that to other girls” in that case “bet” means I’m 100 percent sure he tells other girls the same thing he says to me. I mostly use it to agree or to get my point across. I still use it in its original form when there’s an actual bet going on. Anyone can say or write the word “bet” no matter the race it’s just a slang that is commonly used not only just in New York City.

Bet is word everyone should know especially if it is used in many other states you wouldn’t want to know a slang and have yourself confused when someone is saying it to you. Now your just clueless on whether he or she used the wrong word thinking it means the dictionary meaning when it’s really the slang definition. Some slang words are new, and elders may not know them, but the word “bet” could be confusing since it’s a word already. Bet is important to my community and I because it gives off great communication towards each other. Any slang word or phrases holds a great conversation are made with those who are in our current generation. You feel a sense of welcoming and belonging when you get to communicate with others who are familiar with slang words. We the community created slang. Slang is everywhere why not learn it. It’s basically learning a second language but only different meanings to it but in a new worded way.