Slang
Etymology of the word slang
In its earliest attested use (1756), the word slang referred to the vocabulary
of "low" or "disreputable" people. By the early nineteenth century, it was no
longer exclusively associated with disreputable people, but continued to be
applied to usages below the level of standard educated speech.[2] In Scots
dialect it meant "talk, chat, gossip",[3] as used by Aberdeen poet William
Scott in 1832: "The slang gaed on aboot their war'ly care." [4] In northern
English dialect it meant "impertinence, abusive language". [5]
The origin of the word is uncertain, although it may be connected
with thieves' cant[citation needed]. A Scandinavian origin has been proposed
(compare, for example, Norwegian slengenavn, which means "nickname"),
but based on "date and early associations" is discounted by the Oxford
English Dictionary.[2] Jonathon Green, however, agrees with the possibility
of a Scandinavian origin, suggesting the same root as that of sling, which
means "to throw", and noting that slang is thrown language – a quick and
honest way to make your point.[6][7]
Definition
Slang is vocabulary (words, phrases, and linguistic usages) of an informal register, common in spoken
conversation but avoided in formal writing.[1] It also sometimes refers to the language generally
exclusive to the members of particular in-groups in order to establish group identity, exclude outsiders,
or both.
Linguists have no simple and clear definition of slang, but agree that it is a constantly changing
linguistic phenomenon present in every subculture worldwide. Some argue that slang exists because we
must come up with ways to define new experiences that have surfaced with time and modernity.
[8]
Attempting to remedy the lack of a clear definition, however, Bethany K. Dumas and Jonathan
Lighter argue that an expression should be considered "true slang" if it meets at least two of the
following criteria:[8]
It lowers, if temporarily, "the dignity of formal or serious speech or writing"; in other words, it is
likely to be considered in those contexts a "glaring misuse of register".
Its use implies that the user is familiar with whatever is referred to, or with a group of people
who are familiar with it and use the term.
"It's a taboo term in ordinary discourse with people of a higher social status or greater responsibility."
It replaces "a well-known conventional synonym." This is done primarily to avoid discomfort caused
by the conventional synonym or discomfort or annoyance caused by having to elaborate further.
The difference between slang and both
jargon and colloquial:
While many forms of lexicon may be considered low-register or "sub-standard", slang remains distinct
from colloquial and jargon terms because of its specific social contexts. While viewed as inappropriate
in formal usage, colloquial terms are typically considered acceptable in speech across a wide range of
contexts, while slang tends to be perceived as infelicitous in many common communicative
situations. Jargon refers to language used by personnel in a particular field, or language used to
represent specific terms within a field to those with a particular interest. Although jargon and slang can
both be used to exclude non-group members from the conversation, the purpose of jargon is said to be
optimizing conversation using terms that imply technical understanding.[11] On the other hand, slang
tends to emphasize social and contextual understanding.
While colloquialisms and jargon may seem like slang because they reference a particular group, they
do not necessarily fit the same definition, because they do not represent a particular effort to replace
the general lexicon of a standard language. Colloquialisms are considered more acceptable and more
expected in standard usage than slang is, and jargon is often created to talk about aspects of a
particular field that are not accounted for in the general lexicon.[12] However, this differentiation is
not consistently applied by linguists; the terms "slang" and "jargon" are sometimes treated as
synonymous,[13] and the scope of "jargon" is at times extended to mean all forms of socially-restricted
language.[1
Formation of slang:
