Faculty Mentors
Dr. Mariana Stoyanova
Abstract
The current paper details the emergent use of Parlache, a unique Colombian urban slang, which has become popular among the low-income barrios, or slums, of Medellin and other cities in Colombia. Parlache was born largely out of the necessity for the Medellin Cartel to remain undetected by law enforcement, in conjunction with a major socioeconomic crisis that tore through urban sprawl in the 1980s. Much of its vocabulary is comprised of code words born in the cartel, however, has also been incorporated into popular urban culture in written and spoken form, such as songs, TV shows, day to day expressions, movies, printed media, etc. After the narco culture became seen as viable way to relieve poverty, it exploded and expanded, leeching into society outside of narco culture, where it was taken up by popular culture.
As Parlache was formed from a split in culture during a time of heavy social unrest, it is not only influenced by the narco culture in Colombia but is considered an important tool to examine how the culture is changing. The goal of this presentation is to explain how this quickly changing lexicon is formed by a heightened narco presence through three main processes: resemantization, revitalization, and the addition of outside slang, and to then draw connections between the significance of the slang lexicon and the Colombian culture.
Recommended Citation
Taylor, Savannah E.
(2026)
"Parlache: The Spread of Narco(tics) Slang and its Impact on the Colombian Lexicon and Culture,"
The Corinthian: Vol. 22, Article 8.
Available at:
https://kb.gcsu.edu/thecorinthian/vol22/iss1/8