Trash talk
Trash talk is a form of spoken insult usually found in sports events, although it is not exclusive to sports or similarly characterized events.[1][2] It is often used to intimidate the opposition and/or make them less confident in their abilities to win easier, but it can also be used in a humorous spirit. Trash-talk is often characterized by the use of hyperbole or figurative language, such as "Your team can't run! You run like honey on ice!" Puns and other wordplay are commonly used.
"Trash Talk" redirects here. For the hardcore punk band, see Trash Talk (band).Trash-talk has become a debatable term, especially in North American sports, with the greatest trash talkers being acknowledged for both their trash-talking skills as well as their athletic and mental abilities.[3]
Usage[edit]
In sports, trash-talk most commonly comes in the form of insults to an opposing player's playing ability or physical appearance which is ethically not acceptable.[4] The intended effects of trash-talk are to create rivalry between the players and increase the psychological pressure of opposing players to perform well or to stop the trash-talker from performing well.[5] Trash-talk was most famously used by heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali in the 1960s and 70s.
In 1963, Ali even released a popular full-length record album consisting largely of trash-talk poetry. It was entitled I Am the Greatest!, a phrase that became his signature line. Since then, it has become common for boxers, wrestlers, and many other sports competitors to use trash-talk.[6] However, in amateur sports ranks, trash-talking is generally frowned upon as unsportsmanlike conduct (especially in youth leagues). Former UFC Featherweight and Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor is an example of a prominent trash-talker, he is considered to be the greatest trash-talker in MMA history.[7][8][9] Former UFC fighter Chael Sonnen is also considered by many to be one of the greatest trash-talkers MMA has ever had.[7][8][9] Although the practice of trying to distract opponents with verbal abuse is common to virtually all sports, other sports sometimes have their terminology for verbal abuse: for example, cricket calls it sledging and in ice hockey, it is called chirping.
The quality of performance of players under the pressure of trash-talk is debated, but one study found that participants who were subject to a trash-talk message exerted more effort in completing their task and perceived their opponent with more incivility and rivalry when compared to participants who were subject to a neutral, irrelevant, or no message at all.[5]
While trash-talking frequently focuses on sporting attributes such as physical ability and athleticism, there is also significant trash-talking off-topic including opponent's sexual behavior and relationships. Trash-talk is more prevalent in contact sports than non-contact sports, and it is also more prevalent between male competitors than female competitors.[10]
Morality[edit]
The ethics of using trash-talk as a strategy is debated. In sports, trash talking is often seen as unsportsmanlike, as throwing insults at opposing players goes beyond the limits and conventions of the game. Some argue, on the other hand, that trash talking can be used as a valid strategy to increase tension in opponents and thus benefit from opponents' poor performance, since any action not explicitly banned in the rules is permitted.[27]
In popular culture[edit]
Given the rapid increase in the popularity of the phrase, its appearance in popular media and culture is extensive. One of the earliest references can be found in Dobie Gray's hit song from 1965, "The 'In' Crowd," in which the third verse describes members "spendin' cash, talkin' trash" as part of the depiction of a desirable group membership. Uses have become ubiquitous, particularly as part of the birth of hip-hop culture and rap music. References are now likely too numerous to manage a list here in Wikipedia, although there are some notable examples of its unique uses.