People have a high capacity to develop and use language to understand their environment and the circumstances surrounding them in their daily life. Particularly, the aspect of globalization has played a major part in the development of new languages. Mostly, the new languages arise in instances where users combine words from different cultures or use a common word to derive more than one meaning. All this is done in an effort of creating a word conscious environment. Furthermore, people have learned to acknowledge the subtleties of word meaning. To this end, this paper aims to look into the context in which the word ‘hot’ serves in slang.
In this perspective, the original meaning of the word ‘hot’ is of course referring to high temperature, as well as eagerness, being keen, and ardent. However, recently, the word has been used by people who are conversant with the slang language as a means to express desires for something attractive especially involving persons of opposite genders. It is not a wonder to hear a person say “that gal is hot”. This means the boy or the man is attracted to that girl. This new meaning of the word hot dates back to the 1500’s where the term hot started to acquire new meaning excited or motivated by sexual desires. At the time, the word was used frequently to express desires and attractiveness among the people.
Categorically, it is through this influence and fame of the word that led to the naming of Tabasco hot sauce and hot dog at the end of 1800’s. This is the time when Americans embraced the word “hot” to describe spicy delicacies in America kitchens and restaurants. In the modern world, it is normal to hear people refer to anything attractive either alive or non-life things such as occasions, music, or even dancing styles. For instance, one can hear a person say, “That concern was a blast, the dancers made it fun with their hot moves”. This shows that the dancers were talented since they danced exceptionally. Moreover, the word can be used to mean change in emotion such at times when a person is so angry about something. Use of hot as to mean sexual attractiveness might be at times unethical or abusive in nature.
Accordingly, the word hot is a common word in our daily lives hence can be used to express simple meaning as well as complex meaning based on the context in which it is being used. For instance, the sentence, “My car has hot wheels”, means that the car being talked about is very fast. In the event that someone is lucky or extremely good, he or she may be supposed to possess a hot hand which connote that he is also successful in what he or she does mostly such incidences involve games such as poker, gambling, and betting. For instance, “That poker player has a hot hand”. Also, our lives today is characterized by such interesting and exciting stories may be referred to as hot news or stories; for instance, “The story of the man who saved a dying child is so hot”. Moreover, the word hot can be used to refer to stolen, or illegal items such diamonds, money, or other valuable items are basically referred to as hot items; for instance, “The smuggler was caught with a hot painting”. In addition, a person is arrested, or he is closely monitored or tracked by police can be referred to as hot, for instance,” The police are urging anyone who will see the hot suspect should report immediately to the nearest authorities.
Additionally, the word hot can also be used in a range of context and generalities. For instance, in sports a coach may urge the team members to become hot meaning he wants them to become exceedingly motivated or successful in the playground, for instance, “When you are in the field do not be anything other than hot”. Moreover, the word may be used to refer to violent or intense occasions such as battles and wars or more tense situations, for instance, “The Second World War was hotter that the First World War, and in case there will be a third world war, it will be even hotter”.
In a nutshell, the word hot has evolved from single meaning to some extended and diverse meaning. The word has been used on the basis of the occasion and situation to mean either attractive, admirable, and appealing, nevertheless; the word can be used to depict emotions and special events using either informal language or slang. In its form as an adjective or an adverb, it can be used to convey different meaning, which may not, be universal since some meaning are derived from slang and, therefore; might be only known to a certain age group or location, but despite all the manipulation and extension of the word’s meaning, the word is still crucial and hold a lot of meaning in everyday life.
Works Cited
Corson, David, Robert Lawrence Heath and Jennings Bryant. Human Communication Theory and Research. New York: Routledge, 2000.
Fries, Peter Howard and Michael Gregory. Discourse in Society: Systemic Functional Perspectives. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1995.
Infoplease. 9 February 2013. http://dictionary.infoplease.com/hot. 9 February 2013.
