Peculiarities of slang

What was felt as strikingly witty yesterday becomes dull and stale today, since everybody knows it and uses it. So how do the slang words come to life? There are several ways of slang words formation:1. Various figures of speech participate in slang formation: metaphor, metonymy, hyperbole, understatement, irony (clear as mud, for example).Slang items usually arise by the same means in which new words enter the general vocabulary.2. The slang word can appear thanks to the recycling of the words and parts of words, which are already in the language.Expressions may take form as metaphors, similes, and other figures of speech.Some slang formation follow the rules of Standard English. For example, slang behaves regularly in the forming of denominal adjectives by –y suffixation and deverbal adjectives by –able suffixation (shaggable). It uses the suffix –ette to denote female sex as in punkette (a female punk), sometimes the suffix -ish to describe something looking not really something (greyish as in a little bit grey). It uses the verbal prefix de- to convey a sense of removal or deprivation to the base as in.Words also may acquire new meanings. A narrow meaning may become generalized or vice-versa. Most affixation tend to belong to extragrammatical morphology, though they exhibit a certain regularity and stability.Slang has some productive suffixes which are either new (eg. -o/oo, -eroo, -ers) or used differently from Standard English. The slang suffix –o means either ``a stupid unintelligent person``(dumbo) or a person with a particular habbit or characteristic (psycho). This suffix seems to be productive in the making of forms of addressing someone (kiddo).Another prolific slang cumulation is –ers as in some nouns (go bonkers).The suffix –s lost its inflectional meaning in slang and conveys new meaning to the base: afters- dessert, flicks- cinema, messages- groceries.The use of –ed is also noteworthy in slang. It is added to noun to obtain adjectives: boxed, brained, hammered, ratted. –er in slang gives unpredictable sense as in belter- excellent thing or event, bottler-person who easily gives up.3. Compounding makes one word from two. Initial and final combination have intensifying function: butt naked- fully naked, butt ugly- completely ugly; earache- a talkative person, faceache – a miserable looking person, airhead-someone out of touch with reality.Infixes are unknown in standard English being a peculiarity of slang. Bloody, fucking are used to provide information about speaker`s attitude (as in abso-bloody-lutely, or in fan-fuckin`-tastic).Conversion is anomalous in slang in case of adjective-noun as in high- pleasantly intoxicated state, massive- a group of people.4. In slang, frequently used words are likely to be abbreviated. For example: ASAP – as soon as possible, NGL – not gonna lie, IDK – I don’t know. Most of these abbreviations are used for internet slang, in order to type messages quicker.5. Unlike the general vocabulary of the language, English slang has not borrowed heavily from foreign languages, although it does borrow from dialects, especially from such ethnic or special interest groups which make an impact on the dominant culture.6. Sometimes new words are just invented. shenanigans-tricks, pranksWe can see that slang depart from what is generally regarded as grammatical or predictable and is likely to pioneer original word-formation processes which pave the way for further morphological process.Conclusion.Slang makes speech more concise, concrete, emotionally expressive, and also serves as a kind of sign of belonging to a certain social environment. A significant difference between slang and jargon is the increased emotionality of slang, the tendency to "compress" the word, as well as the fact that slang "serves" the narrowest circle of people.Words may be clipped, or abbreviated (mic, microphone),We have demonstrated how slang can be found both in standard and non-standard language. It can be rapidly accepted and be a part of standard language. It can also have the characteristics of jargon and usually its main function is to secretly communicate and can be often related to a certain geographical area or profession. Slang vocabulary is expressive and innovative, it is typical for young people who contribute to its expansion. Some may find slang offensive, it may be used for mocking people, but these slang expressions are mainly used in conflict situations and with a sarcastic intonation.References.Ayto, J., & Simpson, J. (2010). Oxford dictionary of modern slang. Oxford University Press.Mattiello, E. (2005). The pervasiveness of slang in standard and non-standard English. Mots Palabras Words, 6, 7-41.Partridge, E. (2015). Slang: To-day and yesterday. Routledge.Pavlova, N. V., & Kuleshova, Y. A. (2003). Slang as a part of the English Language. English Learner’s Digest–2003, August, №, 7-13.Spears, R. NTC's Dictionary of American Slang and ColloquialExpressions, McGraw-Hill 2005. - 576 p.Thorne, T. (2004). Slang, style-shifting and sociability. Multicultural Perspectives on English Language and Literature-Tallinn/London.Thorne, T. (2009). Dictionary of Contemporary Slang. A&C Black.