Slang is one of the most interesting parts of any language. In America every generation has its own slang. Merrium-Webster defines slang as words that are not considered part of the standard vocabulary of a language and that are used very informally in speech, especially by a particular group of people (Merrium-Webster). Standard American English contains many slang words and phrases that have developed over the last century. Where does slang come from? Slang tends to originate in the subcultures of a society. Teenagers, professional groups, minorities, residential groups, military, religious groups, and any other subculture you can think of could form a slang word or phrase as long as it is used by members of the group to communicate. When group members use slang terms in normal society, the society notices and may adopt the slang expressions as its own. However, most slang terms are short-lived and when the next generation arrives they fade away, sometimes becoming non-existent. Let's take a look at American slang in the early 20th century. The slang term “23 Skidoo,” meaning “go away” or “get out of here,” was introduced into American society around 1905 (Chapman). “23 Skidoo” is believed to be the first national slang term (Chapman). This phrase functions as an adjectival phrase. In the 1920s people were interested in new ideas and modern music; therefore, it was later nicknamed the age of the water table. The slang term "flapper" is used to describe a woman who wore fashionable clothes, had short hair, was interested in modern music and new ideas (Chapman). Some of the other terms popularized from 1905 to 1929 were: “moxie” meaning vigor or determination in character, “cat paja…… middle of paper……n. Urban Dictionary: The definition of the freshest street slang. Kansas City, MO: AndrewsMcMeel Pub., 2012. Pub.Prometheus Global Media LLC. "Billboard: Music Charts, Music News, Artist Photo Gallery and Free Videos." Advertising billboard. Prometheus Global Media LLC, ndWeb. April 10, 2014.Random house. “Hashtags.” Dictionary.com. Random House and Web Dictionary. April 14, 2014.Sloane, Christina. "How to dress girls in preppy 90s style." EHow. Demand Media, October 13, 2010. Web April 12, 2014. Turner Broadcasting Systems. “Roe v. Wade Fast Facts.” CNN. Cable News Network, November 4, 2013. Web. April 12, 2014."Vintage Allies." Slang of the 1930s. Vintage Allies, March 13, 2013. Web. April 11, 2014. Timeline of United States History. “The Best History of America – Timeline of United States History 2000-2009.” America's Best History - US History Timeline 2000-2009. Np, nd Web. April 122014.