Slang Speech

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Recommended: how people develop language

Slang seems to be one of the most important language formations having a great influence on the development of language. Slang speech is characterized by various linguistic features reflecting the users´ way of living and using the language with emphasis on belonging to a particular group of language users. Slang expressions penetrate into public speeches, scientific language and break up the strict limits between literary and non-literary language. Slang vocabulary is extended by the same onomasiological processes as standard vocabulary. Hubáček (1988:14) mentions two principal processes of creation of slang words. The processes of transformation expand the vocabulary by derivation, compounding or in the processes of abbreviation. The other …show more content…

Functional shift is a typical feature of spoken language, in conversation. Eble (1996:34,35) mentions four main types of functional shift within the part of speech.

• Shift from noun to verb
Ace ´get the grade of A´ (I definitely aced the exam.), flag ´get the grade F´ (Unfortunately, I flagged the test.), potato ´lie around doing nothing´ (I want to potato all Saturdays.), x ´stop´ (I x-ed smoking.), butt in ´to interrupt´ (Don´t butt in on their conversation!), crash ´to sleep´ (May I crash at your place tonight?)

• Shift from verb to noun
Bust ´a fault´ (It was my bust.), raise ´parents´ (My raise are sometimes on the rack.), bash ´a great party´ (I´m having a huge bash tonight, are you coming?), flow ´wage´ (I´ve got plenty of flow to have a party!)

• Shift from adjective to noun
Bad ´a fault´ (It was his bad!), brew ´a countable word for beer´ (Would you like an ice cold brew?)

• Shift from adjective/adverb to verb
Harsh ´criticize´ (I hate the way you keep harshing on me.), later ´to end relationship´ (My boyfriend latered me last …show more content…

The main aim of abbreviation is economy of language. “We distinguish three highly productive ways in which abbreviation is involved in English word-formation, giving us acronyms, clipping, and blends.” (Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech, Svartvik 1985:1580)

Acronyms
Acronyms are aimed at initial letters of words which can be pronounced either as sequences of letters (also called alphabetisms or initialisms), e.g. DOE (Department of Education), HSDP (High School Diploma Program), or pronounced as words, e.g. SNAG (Sensitive New-Age Guy), SNAFU (Situation Normal All Fucked Up). Both of two above types of acronyms are common in the field of education. However, alphabetisms are used more frequently.

The use of acronyms:

• Names of

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