The definition of slang is a type of language that cannot be found in the dictionary. Different slang words are used in different cities and areas, as well as among different demographics of people. There are several reasons why slang is used. It can give individuals a sense of belonging, as well as giving them a sense of identity. It can be used by people to distinguish themselves from the rest of the population, who would have difficulty understanding them if they listened to a conversation between some slang speakers. It is a constantly developing form of language, which changes over the years. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The first example of French slang that differs from American slang is verlan; words formed by reversing the syllables of a standard French word. The word “verlan” itself is verlan for “the invers”. This form of slang was first used in Paris after World War II and quickly became popular through music, television, and other forms of popular culture. Nowadays, Verlan is spoken throughout France. Some Verlan words are used very rarely and other words cannot be Verlanized. However, a number of Verlan words have spread to France. Sometimes, a Verlan word is re-Verlanized for this reason. The rearrangement of the syllables creates a form of code word, which is impossible to decipher by an individual who is unaware of Verlan's existence. For example, in Le Ghetto Franais by Ideal J, the rapper utters the phrase «Protager la peau de ses pain-co». Pain-co, in standard French, would be “copain”. This is completely different from anything you might hear in American hip hop, which does not alter the syllables of a word in any way. There are countless examples of Verlan in French hip hop, with French rappers even pronouncing their own names in Verlan. For example, the rapper Fabe, in 'L'Impertinent' calls himself 'Bef'. Furthermore, MC Solaar calls himself “Laarso” in many of his songs. Besides this there is another form of slang that differs greatly from American rap. Slang and vocabulary derived from other languages, usually Arabic. Most rappers in the United States are African American, yet they speak English and only English while rapping. On the other hand, most French rappers are of Middle Eastern origin. Cities like Marseille and Paris, the cities where many rap legends reside, have large Arab populations. A large number of French rappers are of Arab origin, their parents having left countries such as Algeria due to economic difficulties. Many of them use slang words that derive from Arabic. One of these rappers is Ali, who was part of the duo Lunatic. He was born in France but is of Moroccan origin. Various Arabic terms and words are used in his lyrics. For example, in Pas l'Temps Pour Les Regrets, he says « A la vie Inch' Allah». This is a term that means “God willing”. This phrase is very commonly spoken by Muslims and its variants are used in Persian, Turkish and Urdu. Booba also uses a common Arabic term in another Lunatic song, Le Silence n'est pas un oubli. He says “je dis Bismillah quand je mange”. Bismillah is an Arabic phrase meaning "in the name of God", also commonly used by many Muslims. There are many American Muslim rappers, however it is extremely rare to hear Arabic phrases spoken by them. Furthermore, "wesh wesh" is a common greeting that comes from Arabic, popular among young French people. This phrase is also present in rap. All these examples show that there is a clear difference between the identity of French and American rap artists. Even the language of French rap.