The Philadelphia word jawn
Chapter 1
The linguistic mystery of a universal word
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Chapter 2
The historical evolution from joint to jawn
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Chapter 3
The unwritten rules of using jawn
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Chapter 4
How jawn went mainstream in popular culture
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YOUR GOAL
Master of The Philadelphia word jawn
Ch 1 · The linguistic mystery of a universal word
Fun Fact
Dictionary recognition: Merriam-Webster officially added 'jawn' to its Words We're Watching list in 2017.
Glossary
jawn (noun)
A slang word used as an all-purpose placeholder to refer to any person, place, thing, or event. Linguist William Labov began documenting the word’s development in Philadelphia through field recordings in the 1970s.
A slang word used as an all-purpose placeholder to refer to any person, place, thing, or event. Linguist William Labov began documenting the word’s development in Philadelphia through field recordings in the 1970s.
Quiz
Which dictionary added the Philadelphia word 'jawn' to its 'Words We're Watching' list in 2017?
Quiz
If a speaker from Philadelphia says 'look at those jawns,' what does the plural form 'jawns' refer to?
Quiz
What type of linguistic communication relies heavily on shared physical surroundings, like using the word 'jawn'?