社会语言学导论

2.2 sociallinguistic approach to slang

as we have mentioned, slang a important component of language, and as language, it, in itself, can not be evaluated as right or wrong. It is just a social phenomenon reflected in language, so we should take an objective attitude to analyze it. This paper will do it from the perspective of sociolinguistics, because sociolinguistics is that part of linguistics which is concerned with language as a social and cultural phenomenon”. Therefore, the study of language can not be separated from society and culture.

2.3 Characteristics of slang

American slang, as the product of American society, has its distinctive characteristics. There are four distinct features which is rooted in American society, that is its brevity, novelty, instability and plural synonym.

2.3.1 Brevity

Just as Flexner remarks，brevity may not be the soul of American slang, but it is perhaps the chief feature. The American Dictionary of Slang also demonstrates that slang seems to prefer short words. This is usually attained by the substitution of simple syllables to express the meaning of a longer word or expression. Simp (stupid person), veep and classy (fashionable) are brief and easy to speak out. What s more, some slangs can briefly express the meaning which can not be done by one standard usage such as doodle and frisk (make a body search—especially refers to patting or touching someone s pockets or places where something can be hidden and carried about).

2.4.2 Novelty

Slang words are often invented by people for the pleasure of novelty and imitated by others who like to be in fashion. For example, they use think-machine for brain, sparkler for diamond and flying coffin for plane.

2.4.3 Instability

Instability is another distinct feature of slangs. Unlike other kinds of language, slang words usually do not remain for many years, though some slangs change into standard language after some time. Gay, for instance, started its life in the sense “ homosexual” in the 1930s, and nowadays is broadly accepted as standard terminology.

2.4.4 rich synonyms

American slang is characteristic of a wealth of synonyms, which has a close connection with the pursuit of novelty. Take money for example, there are such expressions for money as brass, lolly, tin, dough, mazuma, moolah and bread.

3. Social analysis of slangs from the perspective of gender, age, occupation and

social settings to use slang

Slangs are not only different from other kinds of languages in its characteristics but also has specific features in the slang-users. This part will explain this from the perspectives of the users age, gender and occupation.

3.1 gender

Most American slang is created and used by males. De Klerk (1990, 1992) also found that the gender difference in use and tolerance of slang was leveling out in contemporary society and that the stereotype of makes being the primary slang users was open to question. Many types of slang words ---including the taboo and strongly