Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Blossom]

"The rap group Goldie Lookin' Chain have satirised the chav aesthetic."

What is chav or the chav aesthetic?

[toe]

"Chav" is a term that is purely British. Apparently it is said in mockery of someone that has poor taste and vulgar manners. Here is a link, although it may not work--

http://www.chavscum.co.uk/celebrity.php

So, in your sentence, the "chav aesthetic" refers to the look of the person, how he or she dresses and styles himself/herself. Calling someone a "chav" is certainly only for mockery, making fun of someone else, which is, of course, also in poor taste.

We don't have this term in America, but we do have the terms "white trash" or "trailer trash," used in the same way as "chav." It doesn't speak well of a person who uses these terms, however.

Hope this info helps!
toe

[Blossom]

Many thanks. But why CHAV?

It is curious how these words suddenly appear. Chav, flaky, and so on.

[toe]

I agree, Blossom! It is very curious.

But that's the beauty of language--we as human beings are always growing and changing and our language should be alive this way, too. You will hear many many arguments against slang, but I am an advocate of slang and idioms and colloquialisms. It is in this way that language bonds us and also helps us develop new ideas and new ways of thinking about things. (But...that is just my opinion!)

I have no idea, really, of the evolution of the terms 'chav' or 'flaky.' Maybe someone else might?

^^ toe