1960s

1960s

Context

• The 1960s was a period of massive social upheaval in reaction to what many saw as the cosy, staid 1950s

• Many political movements gained ground in the 1960s including the feminist movement, civil rights, anti-colonialism, black nationalism, anti-racism, and anti-war

• Consequently, language was used as a badge of honour to signify membership of particular groups

Hippie

• The word “hippie”, although originating in the 1950s, became commonplace in the 1960s.

• A corruption of the word “hipster” which in turn derived from the African-American word “hip” or “hep”, arguably derived from the Wolof word “hepicat” meaning “one who has his eyes open”

• These words all refer to somebody that was fashionable and up-to-date with the latest trends

• Originally used to describe Greenwich Village beatniks, came to describe bohemian youths that experimented with drugs, listened to psychedelic music and were sexually promiscuous

Groovy

• Synonymous with the ‘60s, this word actually originated in the nineteenth century (1853) as a music-related word but was first used as an adjective in the modern sense (“excellent”, “great”, “cool”) in 1941

• Coined by the jazz subculture and came to be used by youths in the ‘40s

• Was used by hippies and became spoofed by characters such as Austin Powers

Toke

• Unsurprisingly, many drug-related words were coined or became common in this era

• “Toke”, referring to smoking marijuana originated in the 1950s but became widespread in the 1960s

• Of unsure etymology, possibly from the Spanish infinitive verb “tocar”, literally meaning “to touch” or closer to the English verb “to hit” as in to take a hit

• Again, associated with the hippie subculture

Square

• Word referring to people that weren’t hip

• Again, originated before the ‘60s but became common in the ‘60s

• Derived from the idea that squares, being equal on all sides are honest and straight, the jazz culture changed this from a compliment to an insult

• Hippies were part of the counterculture and therefore saw anything that was straight as conservative and out-of-touch

Gas

• Used in the context of “it’s a gas” meaning something’s a lot of fun became popular during the 1960s

• Uncertain origin – first used in the sense of fun in Irish English in a 1914 Irish story collection

• “a gas” became common in jazz circles during the 1950s and then became used by the hippie culture in the ‘60s

• Popularised by the Rolling Stones in their track “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”

Pragmatics of ‘60s slang

• As alluded to in “square”, much of the slang of the ‘60s related to the political landscape.

• Also a strong emphasis on being socially aware and part of the counterculture

• The hippie culture was a catch-all for people from the feminist, civil rights, pacifist and anti-racist movement

• Use of these words was a way of demonstrating belonging to this group