It seems that every generation declares “hello” a fairly dull word in its infancy, subsequently putting much effort into working up a variety of alternatives to put a unique stamp on the rather tedious formality of greeting someone, from “all right?” to “yo” (now banished on pain of death in some inner-city boroughs). “Wagwan” is the latest bastardisation and can be used for a variety of situations, from a basic introduction through to “how are you?” with a slight change of intonation. Depending on what stories you believe, it is either a simple Jamaican patois condensing of “what’s going on?” or evolved from African slaves being taught to speak English on Jamaican sugar plantations. A starting point for a history lesson, perhaps? Yoofspeak would be honoured.
Want to keep reading for free?
Register with Tes and you can read five free articles every month, plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters.
