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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle
Hadley Freeman

Kanye West tackles linguistics; Saussure feels threatened

Deeply upsetting news: LiS' favourite phrase is banned. No, not "expense it." Not even "I have no idea how I caught that." No, it's the one that speaks to us the most deeply - "bling." And how do we know it's banned? Kanye West says so.

According to my main brother (is "brother" still allowed? Is "man" preferable"?), "Only white people and older black people say 'bling' now. If a white person uses slang too early then it makes them look like a wigger. But if black people use slang too late then it makes them look like a wigger."

Tragically, there is not a single word in that sentence that I can understand as otherwise I would elucidate. But then, Derrida was never easily comprehended by those of a lesser mind so Kanye is merely working within a fine tradition of linguists.

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