An A - Z of slang

What exactly is slang? Well, we can't say "exactly" because there are many definitions by writers and dictionaries. It has been described as for example "-slang" the secret argot of a group of people who share a similar lifestyle, subculture or workplace. Its purpouse is to conceal the meaning of what is being said from those outside of the group.

The world "slang" possibly derives from the Norvegian word "slangeord," one of whose meanings is "an expression wined on the sput of the moment."

Moreover, slang words are very informal words. They may be new, or existing words used in a new sense and context.

As time goes by, some are used more widely and are no longer thought of as slang. 'Naughty' and 'clever', for instance, were both formerly slang words thats are now accepted as standard. Many slang words die out after a few years or sooner. The regular introduction of new words to replace them helps keep the language alive.

A lot of slang words ere restricted to a particular social group. Use of slang suggests an easy, informal relationship between people and helps reinforce social identity. In the 18 th century the word 'slang' described the language of criminals, but since them every group in society has developed its own slang terms. The groups that use most slang are still those closest to the edge of society: criminals, prisoners and drug users. Young people also develop slang expressions to distance themselves from older people.

The street language of young people changes fast. Street slang includes words relating to young people's attitudes. Young people today may describe something exciting as cool, massive, wicked, wild or storming. If something is old-fashioned or undesirable it is naff. As people get older they sometimes keep on using the same slang words and in this way slang may indicate a person's age. The parents of today's young people used 'great', 'super', 'fab' or 'smusting' when they were young, and many of them still use these words. Some older people tray to use current street slang in order not to seem old-fashioned, though in many cases it sounds old and inappropriate.

A lot of street slang refers to drink, drug and sex. Many of these words and phrases are not socially acceptable and are widely considered rude and offensive, for example the expressions 'get pissed', 'get smasted' and 'be of your face' relate to getting drunk. Slang words for drugs include 'smack' (heroin) and 'crack' (cocaine) and so on. 'Shagging', 'screwing' and 'geting your leg over' all refer to sex. Other common slang expressions refer to the body's waste functions, e.g. 'piss', 'take a leak'.

Slang words are also widely used for things found in everyday life. The television, for instance, can be called the 'box' and the remote control the'clicker' or 'flicker'. The 'blower' or the 'horn' is the telephone.

Some slang expressions are euphemisms. Many older people use euphemism for bodily functions, e.g. 'spend a penny', 'powder your nose', 'visit the bathroom', meaning 'to go the toilet'. Some common serious diseases have slang names which are lighter in tone than the formal name, e.g. 'the big C' for cancer. In business, some companies, instead of sacking or firing an employce, may speak of 'letting them go'. In the USA a person who takes away rubbish used to be called a garbage man, but now may be called a 'sanitary engineer'.

Some professions and areas of work have their own terms, often called jargon, which are different from slang. Many people learn bits of the jargon of other groups through television programmes and films about hospitals, law courts, etc. Some of the jargon used by people who work with computers has also become well known. Most people know, for instance, that a 'hacker' is somebody who gets into other people's computers without permission.

Someone might invent a new expression. If it seems apt - humorous or shocking maybe - then others start to use it. Sometimes, as you shall hear and see, it survives. Often, though, its lifespan is short.

There's a whole universe of slang out there. I offer you just a brief A - Z of contemporary usage.
 

Opracowanie: Beata Karpińska-Kasztelan

Wyświetleń: 1392