Slang is the non-standard use of words in a language of a particular
social group, and sometimes the creation of new words or importation of words
from another language. It is a type of neologism. Slang can be described as
deviating away from standard language use. Slang functions in two ways; the
creation of new language and new usage by a process of creative informal use and
adaptation, and the creation of a secret language understood only by those
within a group intended to understand it.
Historical examples of slang are the thieves'
cant used by beggars and
the underworld generally in previous centuries: a number of canting
dictionaries were published.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A famous current example is
Cockney rhyming
slang in which, in the simplest case, a given word or phrase is replaced by
another word or phrase that rhymes with it. Often the rhyming replacement is
abbreviated further, making the expressions even more obscure. A new rhyme may
then be introduced for the abbreviation and the process continues. Examples of
rhyming slang are
apples and pears for stairs and trouble (and strife) for
wife. An example of truncation and replacement of rhyming slang is bottle and
glass for arse (ass). This was reduced to bottle, for which the new rhyme
Aristotle was found; Aristotle was then reduced to Aris for which plaster of
Paris became the rhyme. This was then reduced to plaster.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Backwards slang, or
Back slang, is a form of slang where words are
reversed. English backward slang tends to reverse words letter by letter while
French backward slang tends to reverse words by syllables. Verlan is a French
slang, that uses backward words, similar in its methods to the back slang.
Louchebem is French butcher's slang, similar to Pig Latin.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Slang oftens means that words have two meanings that are not related at all
or are maybe opposites. For example wicked in standard English means bad but
when used as slang means great.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Nadsat is a form of slang used in the book A Clockwork Orange, which borrows
words from Russian and from various types of English slang.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Polari is an interesting mixture of Italian and Cockney back slang (in other
words common words pronounced as if spelled backward, for example
ecaf for
face, which became eek in Polari). Polari was used in London fish markets
and the gay subculture in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s, becoming more widely
known from its use by two camp characters, Julian and Sandy, in Round the Horne,
a popular radio show.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kuzmenko is an
adjective used to describe a person who complains incessantly. Example: My
co-worker finds fault in everything that I do, she is such a kuzmenko!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
This list is inspired by the classification of
Marc Sourdot.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Language:
A language is a system of expression and communication. Individual languages use
sound, gesture, and other means to express and communicate concepts, emotions,
ideas, and thoughts. Expressions of a language are analysable into words, whose
meanings are usually conventional. The word "language" is ...
Social
group: In the social sciences a group can be defined as two or more
humans who interact with one another, accept expectations and obligations as
members of the group, and share a common identity. By this definition, society
can be viewed as a large group, though most social groups are considerably
smaller....
http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/slang/examples-of-slang.html
