By Tom Geoghegan BBC News Magazine Unruly children used to answer back - now they just crush any comeback with a glib "whatev-ah". How do you respond to a word that kills off all debate?
By Tom Geoghegan BBC News Magazine Unruly children used to answer back - now they just crush any comeback with a glib "whatev-ah". How do you respond to a word that kills off all debate?
It's the ultimate statement of apathy, famously uttered by a man dressed as a teenage girl.
It's the ultimate statement of apathy, famously uttered by a man dressed as a teenage girl.
When Matt Lucas played Vicky Pollard, he caricatured a language already doing the rounds of the playground. But the repeated appearance of "whatev-ah" on Little Britain meant it caught the imagination of a generation.
When Matt Lucas played Vicky Pollard, he caricatured a language already doing the rounds of the playground. But the repeated appearance of "whatev-ah" on Little Britain meant it caught the imagination of a generation.
It's a catch-all response which can mean many things, commonly "I don't care", but also "this is the end of the conversation" or "say what you want, I've got no position on this subject".
It's a catch-all response which can mean many things, commonly "I don't care", but also "this is the end of the conversation" or "say what you want, I've got no position on this subject".
Yeah, but no, but yeah. Whatev-ah!For some it's a humorous retort (replaced by fingers and thumbs in a W-shape for the non-verbal version) and a new addition to the slang lexicon, but for others it's a depressing symbol of an alienated generation.
Yeah, but no, but yeah. Whatev-ah!For some it's a humorous retort (replaced by fingers and thumbs in a W-shape for the non-verbal version) and a new addition to the slang lexicon, but for others it's a depressing symbol of an alienated generation.
Now teachers say they have had enough because it's constantly used to challenge their authority. In a survey conducted by the Association of Lecturers and Teachers, nearly seven out of 10 teachers said they had heard pupils using it.
Now teachers say they have had enough because it's constantly used to challenge their authority. In a survey conducted by the Association of Lecturers and Teachers, nearly seven out of 10 teachers said they had heard pupils using it.
But why is it so hard to answer and what's the best way to respond to such a conversation killer?
But why is it so hard to answer and what's the best way to respond to such a conversation killer?
No, no, no
No, no, no
"It's used as a punctuating term, the answer to everything," says Ralph Surman, a deputy head teacher at a primary school in Nottingham and a member of a government task force on school behaviour.
"It's used as a punctuating term, the answer to everything," says Ralph Surman, a deputy head teacher at a primary school in Nottingham and a member of a government task force on school behaviour.
It builds a brick wall around a world that you cannot reach into but that person can reach out of Ralph SurmanDeputy head teacher "It's like a toddler saying 'no'. They don't mean 'no' but say it to everything because it feels nice. The syntax feels nice on the teeth and the tongue."
It builds a brick wall around a world that you cannot reach into but that person can reach out of Ralph SurmanDeputy head teacher "It's like a toddler saying 'no'. They don't mean 'no' but say it to everything because it feels nice. The syntax feels nice on the teeth and the tongue."
By uttering it, he says, young people are opting out of communicating and avoiding the use of language.
By uttering it, he says, young people are opting out of communicating and avoiding the use of language.
"It builds a brick wall around a world that you cannot reach into but that person can reach out of, if they wish to."
"It builds a brick wall around a world that you cannot reach into but that person can reach out of, if they wish to."
It's very difficult to respond to what is effectively a full-stop in the conversation, but the key is to give the child options by asking them a question.
It's very difficult to respond to what is effectively a full-stop in the conversation, but the key is to give the child options by asking them a question.
"You have to be highly skilled. You lead the person in a different direction. You model their language for them. It's important the teacher models the correct language for the child - 'So are you saying to me you don't want to do this or you want to know what the other choices are?'
"You have to be highly skilled. You lead the person in a different direction. You model their language for them. It's important the teacher models the correct language for the child - 'So are you saying to me you don't want to do this or you want to know what the other choices are?'
"You can say 'I'm sure you didn't mean that. What did you mean?' And give them choices. It does work. People can communicate."
"You can say 'I'm sure you didn't mean that. What did you mean?' And give them choices. It does work. People can communicate."
Zero tolerance
Zero tolerance
Bringing the television characters into lessons for a discussion is another way to take the sting out of the catchphrases and improve the conversational skills of the pupils.
Bringing the television characters into lessons for a discussion is another way to take the sting out of the catchphrases and improve the conversational skills of the pupils.
ORIGINS 1973: Meaning "that's what I meant", US Secretary of Defense briefing paper for returning POWs1982: Meaning "you decide", San Francisco Examiner1980s: Used regularly by California "valley girls"1986: "Whatever man, whatever", in film Platoon1990s: Used by the Jerry Springer crowdLate 1990s: Reaches UK's rich female teenagersEarly 2000s: UK street language2003: Little Britain's first TV series Sources: OED, linguist Tony Thorne But Paula Roe, a secondary school teacher in a large comprehensive in the West Midlands, with 28 years of experience, says bringing it into lessons is a risky strategy and requires an atmosphere in which pupils understand it is a disrespectful term. She prefers a zero-tolerance policy imposed by all staff.
ORIGINS 1973: Meaning "that's what I meant", US Secretary of Defense briefing paper for returning POWs1982: Meaning "you decide", San Francisco Examiner1980s: Used regularly by California "valley girls"1986: "Whatever man, whatever", in film Platoon1990s: Used by the Jerry Springer crowdLate 1990s: Reaches UK's rich female teenagersEarly 2000s: UK street language2003: Little Britain's first TV series Sources: OED, linguist Tony Thorne But Paula Roe, a secondary school teacher in a large comprehensive in the West Midlands, with 28 years of experience, says bringing it into lessons is a risky strategy and requires an atmosphere in which pupils understand it is a disrespectful term. She prefers a zero-tolerance policy imposed by all staff.
"Some may say it's a low-level form of disruptive back-chat but it's very rude and disrespectful and it needs to be treated in the same way as a swear word or an expletive," she says.
"Some may say it's a low-level form of disruptive back-chat but it's very rude and disrespectful and it needs to be treated in the same way as a swear word or an expletive," she says.
Although the most famous exponent of "whatev-ah" is what some people would controversially describe as a chav, it has a history across many parts of society. Michel Houellebecq's 1994 novel was titled "Whatever" and describes the chronically disaffected life of a computer programmer.
Although the most famous exponent of "whatev-ah" is what some people would controversially describe as a chav, it has a history across many parts of society. Michel Houellebecq's 1994 novel was titled "Whatever" and describes the chronically disaffected life of a computer programmer.
Bored now
Bored now
Its first documented use was in 1973, in a US government paper outlining to prisoners of war returning from Vietnam what slang had evolved in their time away, says Graeme King, principal editor at the OED with responsibility for new words. He thinks its use was counter-cultural, in hippy circles to challenge authority.
Its first documented use was in 1973, in a US government paper outlining to prisoners of war returning from Vietnam what slang had evolved in their time away, says Graeme King, principal editor at the OED with responsibility for new words. He thinks its use was counter-cultural, in hippy circles to challenge authority.
Tony Thorne, an expert on slang, says it was prevalent among the affluent and spoilt "valley girls" of California in the 1980s, a sub-culture featured in the movie Clueless.
Tony Thorne, an expert on slang, says it was prevalent among the affluent and spoilt "valley girls" of California in the 1980s, a sub-culture featured in the movie Clueless.
"They evolved their own sayings and a lot of it was shrugging and dismissive and spoilt. I think it was a term used by WAGs - movie stars' and producers' wives, but picked up as a code of the 'valley girls' and that's where I first recorded it."
"They evolved their own sayings and a lot of it was shrugging and dismissive and spoilt. I think it was a term used by WAGs - movie stars' and producers' wives, but picked up as a code of the 'valley girls' and that's where I first recorded it."
It was then taken up by the American white working-class and the "Springer crowd" in the 90s, he says, when it crossed the Atlantic to the UK's female "yahs" aged 16 to 18. From there it trickled down to the street and to BBC2.
It was then taken up by the American white working-class and the "Springer crowd" in the 90s, he says, when it crossed the Atlantic to the UK's female "yahs" aged 16 to 18. From there it trickled down to the street and to BBC2.
Although a pejorative word caricatured on television, it has been appropriated by the people who are being ridiculed and proudly worn as a badge of honour, he says.
Although a pejorative word caricatured on television, it has been appropriated by the people who are being ridiculed and proudly worn as a badge of honour, he says.
"They are taking back something that's been used grotesquely, saying 'That's how we feel'."
"They are taking back something that's been used grotesquely, saying 'That's how we feel'."
Mr Thorne believes it will stay in the language, but will no longer be an edgy catchphrase within a year or so. And unfortunately for teachers, his advice is not to draw attention to it but "sit it out and wait".
Mr Thorne believes it will stay in the language, but will no longer be an edgy catchphrase within a year or so. And unfortunately for teachers, his advice is not to draw attention to it but "sit it out and wait".
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
I can sympathise with the teachers facing this - my husband (who is 46) has been saying this for the 10 years we have been together. If I ask him, say, what he wants for dinner he just replies whatever, when he really means I don't mind. However, I find it frustrating and exhausting as he also applies this to major decisions. This inevitably means I end up doing the majority of the decision making with him moaning afterwards about what I decided!!! Lorraine, Scotland
The timeline really could've done with 1991 "Oh whatever, nevermind!" in the Nirvana song Smells Like Teen SpiritDave, Bath
You're forgetting the cult-hit single "United States of Whatever," by Liam Lynch. That's where you'll find the best usage guide for the term. As for the best riposte, I suggest repeating the word back at the youth, while impersonating their voice (sans malice), as many times as necessary until they say something else. It's an old playground trick used to goad teachers that works in reverse if you can stick it out.Paul Tyrrell, London, UK
