RuPaul's Drag Race has become pop-culture's dominant slang engine, but that slang has been stripped of its valuable context

Wired

"The vernacular of drag culture has been absorbed so quickly that few even know where the terms originated," says Lexi Pandell, adding:  "If you’re new to drag culture, watching Drag Race—which debuted in 2009 and is part America’s Next Top Model, part Project Runway, and part SNL—can feel a little like stepping into unknown linguistic territory. In watching queens serve any and all manner of realness, viewers are absorbing an argot that has birthed everything from 'realness' to 'kiki to 'spilling the tea.' And unless you've been living off the grid for the past few years, you've likely been 'yas, queen!'-ed into oblivion via Broad City, 2 Dope Queens, or the umpteen million GIFs that celebrate the full-throated celebration." ALSO: Drag Race alums respond to RuPaul's transgender controversy.