The Dankest Definition - Joel Goers

A long long time ago in a Shakespearian world very very different from our own, a word was born. It lived well among the other words of its day, content to join them in forming descriptive sentences. It was not an extraordinary word by any means but it filled its role in completing the sentence like any good word should. Now, hundreds of years later, a new day has dawned for it. Out of the ashes of the old it shall blaze anew, much more potent than ever before. Totally redefined, the word dank shall light a new age of prosperity and growth unlike any word before it. Yesterday the word dank was used to describe a damp, cool, moist environment. Today dank is an adjective used to describe a (noun) that “blows the observer away” with its excitatory, desirable, above average, totally awesome, sought for, high quality, the best of its kind, sick, rad, and dope characteristics.

In the beginning, the word dank originated from Scandinavian roots. When two words love each other very much they can sometimes get together and form a new word! In this case, it is suspected that the Swedish dänka and the Norwegian Dynke (moisten) hooked up and were able to parent the English version of the word, Dank. Some accounts even suspect a threesome between dänka, Dynke, and the Old Norse word dǫkk (waterhole). After their groovy combination, Dank showed up in English right around the time Shakespeare was creating his masterpiece “Romeo and Juliet”. It is quite possible that Shakespeare himself encouraged the threesome of the parent words since he is well known for coining hundreds of words in his day. One of the earliest uses of the word dank can be found in the play “Romeo and Juliet” in the lines by Friar Lawrence
“The gray-eyed morn smiles on the
frowning night,
Checkering the
eastern clouds with streaks of light,
And fleckled darkness
like a drunkard reels
From forth day’s path
and Titan’s fiery wheels.
Now, ere the sun
advance his burning eye,
The day to cheer and
night’s dank dew to dry,” (Shakespeare, Act 2, Scene 3)
As can be seen by the context of its use, the word dank did not have the same meaning as it does in the vernacular. Although it differs here in meaning, it is quite necessary to include such historical citations in order to understand how exactly the definition has changed since those ancient times. The word must become redefined legitimately in the current dictionary because it has become so commonplace in everyday language, it is confusing when using it, it will make the English language more efficient and because the old definition of the word is hardly used at all anymore.

Today many teens, adults and even business owners utilize the word dank on a daily and even hourly basis. Dank has become such a commonplace word in the culture of today, even parents know the unofficial definition it holds. It is necessary for language to evolve with the world. New discoveries are made every day and the vernacular changes at a fast rate. The times they are a changing a wise man once said, and in this case the definitions of words must change with the times. The rate at which the new definition is used in everyday language is more than enough to warrant a place for it in the dictionary. The old definition of the word may still hold its place, but an addition to its meaning needs to be created simply because the new definition is used so much. Some may argue that just because dank has become so widely used in today’s language doesn’t mean that it deserves a place in the dictionary. However, the fact of the matter is that language evolves because of the new common uses of old words. The English language itself is an evolution of old Latin and old English. Without such evolution and change in language, our own English language would not exist. The word dank is used so much in today’s language that a source called the urban dictionary has recorded the new definition. The urban dictionary is a site dedicated to keeping up with the new use of old words, slang used on the streets and new words in general that are used but that do not yet have a place in the regular dictionary. According to the urban dictionary, the word dank is “an expression frequently used by stoners and hippies for something of high quality.”(urbandictionary.com). This definition of the word is a little limited from what the true meaning is, but the point is that dank has been so widely used that it is gaining ground in popularity.

It is often said that English is one of the most difficult languages to master for those trying to learn a second language. This is no surprise considering words like dank, with no legitimate dictionary definition, exist in everyday language. Such a large part of the way English speakers communicate is based off of what is considered to be slang. People learning proper English end up getting confused when they speak with native English speakers because of the amount of undefined slang words we throw around on a regular basis. To eliminate this confusion, it is the job of English speakers around the world to legitimize these slang words and to get them in the dictionary. Opponents might say that adding slang words into the dictionary would only serve to make the English language more confusing. Yet putting new definitions of slang words into a dictionary will help make English less confusing because it gives these slang words a legitimate spot in the world and as a result, people learning English as a second language will be able to add these words to their vocabulary while learning the language instead of learning these words off the streets. Putting slang definitions in the dictionary, like the word dank, would make our language much cleaner and much less confusing for those whose speak English as a second language. Not only is it confusing for foreign English speakers, but it is also an inefficient way for language to exist. It is difficult enough to communicate with people in general; having words with no definition only makes it harder. Adding dank into the dictionary, among other slang words, will improve the efficiency of the English language. This is another important reason as to why dank should be added into the dictionary.

As seen in historical paragraph on the origins of dank, the word is known to be very old. It previous use is archaic and frankly it is outdated and has very little use in today’s world of language. They ways in which dank has been used in the days of Shakespeare are so outdated by the way people speak today, the old definition has no place in today’s world. An example can be seen from the play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” when the character Puck poetically says:

“Through the forest have I gone.

But Athenian found I none,

On whose eyes I might approve

This flower's force in stirring love.

Night and silence.--Who is here?

Weeds of Athens he doth wear:

This is he, my master said,

Despised the Athenian maid;

And here the maiden, sleeping sound,

On the dank and dirty ground.

Pretty soul! she durst not lie

Near this lack-love, this kill-courtesy.

Churl, upon thy eyes I throw

All the power this charm doth owe.

When thou wakest, let love forbid

Sleep his seat on thy eyelid:

So awake when I am gone;

For I must now to Oberon. (Shakespeare, Act 2, scene 2)

Nobody speaks like that in the language of today. The old definition is clearly quite outdated because nobody has spoken like that for hundreds of years. Opponents might argue that changing the definition would be changing classical literature and even history. Adding a new definition for dank would not be changing history or classical literature because a new definition would simply be a modification of an old word. The word dank would retain its old definition while having an additional new one. Many words exist like that in the dictionary today; it is not uncommon for a word to have more that one use. The old definition is so outdated that it is very hard to find any sort of up to date quotes or books that contain the word being used with its old definition. This is evidence that a new definition is needed because use for the old one has died down. It is just sad to see an unused word sitting in the dictionary, why not add to it so that it may become a useful word once again!

The new use of the word dank in itself is excitatory, desirable, above average, totally awesome, sought for, high quality, the best of its kind, sick, rad, and dope. That in itself is enough reason to honor it with a new definition. The word dank needs to have its new definition put in the dictionary because keeping it the way it is can lead to confusion, because it is an outdated
system of English, and it has no place in the common language of today’s culture. Some believe that the common everyday use of dank doesn’t warrant it new spot in the dictionary, yet words like “aint” have made it into the dictionary on the same grounds of popularity and common use. Opponents might say that giving slang words dictionary definitions will only make English more
confusing as a language. Yet putting slang definitions into the dictionary will make English less confusing because it eliminates the duality of dictionary definitions and street definitions, making English one and whole. Others still might argue that changing the dictionary definition of dank is wrong because such an act would be rewriting classical literature and historical words. Yet this is also bogus because a new additional definition would be a simple modification of the
word to increase its usefulness, and the old definition would still have its place in English. Overall, it is a disgrace to the English language on a whole to have dank as an undefined slang
word. As a master of setting trends, even Shakespeare would be proud of its new place and evolution in the vernacular. For these reasons, the new age of dank must be legalized!

Works Cited

1. Shakespeare, William, and Jill L. Levenson. "Act 2, Scene 3." Romeo and Juliet. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2000. Print

2. Casey. "Urban Dictionary: Dank." Urban Dictionary, October 11: Buffet Momentum. 19 Apr. 2005. Web. 11 Oct. 2011. .

3. Shakespeare, William, and W. H. Durham. "Act 2, Scene 2." A Midsummer Night's Dream,. New Haven: Yale UP; [etc., Etc., 1918. Print

Images-

1. chatteringteeth.blogspot.com

2. azmarijuana.com

3.brainpickings.org

4. icanhascheezburger.com