Changes

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

The [[origin]] of the word slang is uncertain. It has a [[connection]] with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thieves%27_cant Thieves' cant], and the earliest attested use ([http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_Century 1756]) refers to the vocabulary of "low or disreputable" people. Beyond that, however, its [[origin]] is unclear. A Scandinavian origin has been proposed (compare, for example, Norwegian ''slengenamn'', which means "nickname"), but is discounted by the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] based on "date and early associations".

The [[origin]] of the word slang is uncertain. It has a [[connection]] with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thieves%27_cant Thieves' cant], and the earliest attested use ([https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th_Century 1756]) refers to the vocabulary of "low or disreputable" people. Beyond that, however, its [[origin]] is unclear. A Scandinavian origin has been proposed (compare, for example, Norwegian ''slengenamn'', which means "nickname"), but is discounted by the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] based on "date and early associations".

*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/18th_Century 1756]

*Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/18th_Century 1756]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 : [[language]] peculiar to a particular [[group]]: as a : argot  

*1 : [[language]] peculiar to a particular [[group]]: as a : argot  

* It replaces "a well-known conventional synonym". This is done primarily to avoid the discomfort caused by the conventional item or by further elaboration.

* It replaces "a well-known conventional synonym". This is done primarily to avoid the discomfort caused by the conventional item or by further elaboration.

Slang should be distinguished from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jargon jargon], which is the [[technical]] [[vocabulary]] of a particular [[profession]]. Jargon, like many examples of slang, may be used to exclude non–group members from the [[conversation]], but in general has the [[function]] of allowing its users to talk [[precisely]] about [[technical]] issues in a given field.

Slang should be distinguished from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jargon jargon], which is the [[technical]] [[vocabulary]] of a particular [[profession]]. Jargon, like many examples of slang, may be used to exclude non–group members from the [[conversation]], but in general has the [[function]] of allowing its users to talk [[precisely]] about [[technical]] issues in a given field.

==Extent and origins of slang==

==Extent and origins of slang==

Slang can be regional in that it is used only in a particular territory, but slang terms are often particular to a certain subculture, such as [[music]] or video gaming. Nevertheless, slang [[expressions]] can spread outside their [[original]] areas to become commonly used, like "cool" and "jive." While some [[words]] [[eventually]] lose their [[status]] as slang (the word "mob", for example, began as a slang shortening of [[Latin]] mobile vulgus), others continue to be considered as such by most speakers. When slang spreads beyond the [[group]] or subculture that originally uses it, its original users often replace it with other, less-recognized terms to maintain group [[identity]].

Slang can be regional in that it is used only in a particular territory, but slang terms are often particular to a certain subculture, such as [[music]] or video gaming. Nevertheless, slang [[expressions]] can spread outside their [[original]] areas to become commonly used, like "cool" and "jive." While some [[words]] [[eventually]] lose their [[status]] as slang (the word "mob", for example, began as a slang shortening of [[Latin]] mobile vulgus), others continue to be considered as such by most speakers. When slang spreads beyond the [[group]] or subculture that originally uses it, its original users often replace it with other, less-recognized terms to maintain group [[identity]].

Slang very often involves the [[creation]] of [[novel]] [[meanings]] for existing words. It is common for such novel meanings to diverge significantly from the [[standard]] meaning. Thus, "cool" and "hot" can both mean "very good," "impressive," or "good-looking".

Slang very often involves the [[creation]] of [[novel]] [[meanings]] for existing words. It is common for such novel meanings to diverge significantly from the [[standard]] meaning. Thus, "cool" and "hot" can both mean "very good," "impressive," or "good-looking".

==Distinction between slang and colloquialisms==

==Distinction between slang and colloquialisms==

Some linguists make a distinction between slangisms (slang words) and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloquialism colloquialisms]. According to Ghil'ad Zuckermann, "slang refers to informal (and often transient) lexical items used by a specific [[social]] [[group]], for instance teenagers, soldiers, prisoners and thieves. Slang is not the same as colloquial ([[speech]]), which is informal, relaxed speech used on occasion by any speaker; this might include contractions such as 'you’re,' as well as colloquialisms. A colloquialism is a lexical item used in informal speech; whilst the broadest sense of the term ‘colloquialism’ might include slangism, its narrow sense does not. Slangisms are often used in colloquial speech but not all colloquialisms are slangisms. One [[method]] of distinguishing between a slangism and a colloquialism is to ask whether most [[native]] speakers know the word (and use it); if they do, it is a colloquialism. However, the problem is that this is not a discrete, quantized system but a continuum. Although the majority of slangisms are ephemeral and often supplanted by new ones, some gain non-slang colloquial status (e.g. English silly – cf. German selig ‘blessed’, Middle High German sælde ‘bliss, luck’ and Zelda, a Jewish female first name) and even formal status (e.g. English mob)."[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slang]

Some linguists make a distinction between slangisms (slang words) and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colloquialism colloquialisms]. According to Ghil'ad Zuckermann, "slang refers to informal (and often transient) lexical items used by a specific [[social]] [[group]], for instance teenagers, soldiers, prisoners and thieves. Slang is not the same as colloquial ([[speech]]), which is informal, relaxed speech used on occasion by any speaker; this might include contractions such as 'you’re,' as well as colloquialisms. A colloquialism is a lexical item used in informal speech; whilst the broadest sense of the term ‘colloquialism’ might include slangism, its narrow sense does not. Slangisms are often used in colloquial speech but not all colloquialisms are slangisms. One [[method]] of distinguishing between a slangism and a colloquialism is to ask whether most [[native]] speakers know the word (and use it); if they do, it is a colloquialism. However, the problem is that this is not a discrete, quantized system but a continuum. Although the majority of slangisms are ephemeral and often supplanted by new ones, some gain non-slang colloquial status (e.g. English silly – cf. German selig ‘blessed’, Middle High German sælde ‘bliss, luck’ and Zelda, a Jewish female first name) and even formal status (e.g. English mob)."[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slang]

[[Category: Languages and Literature]]

[[Category: Languages and Literature]]