What is slang: the definition and scope of use

Russian language, as, in principle, the language of any people, rich and powerful, bright and comprehensive. To denote the same phenomenon or concept in it, as a rule, there are several linguistic units. Lexicology is an interesting section of linguistics. It is in him that the history and culture of the nation and state are reflected in the most complete form.

Vocabulary and its sublevels

All vocabulary, that is, the vocabulary of the language, depending on the sphere of use is divided into a number of layers, the boundaries between which are quite unstable. Some groups of words are almost always in action and constitute an active part of our speech. Others form its liability. The lexicon is subject to certain norms - grammatical and semantic. In this connection, the question arises about what slang is.

The concept is quite complex, heterogeneous. Linguists do not have a strict, unambiguous definition of the term. As well as what language units are necessarily classified in this subsection, and which are not. What is slang: is it only a colloquial, unregularized style of speech or can it be included in an artistic style too? These and many other related problems cause heated debate among specialists. Let's try to understand them and we.

Definition

One of the definitions of what slang is is as follows: it is a specific set of newly formed lexemes or the transfer of already existing additional semantic nuances that are used by a limited circle of persons and are not intelligible to the rest of the speakers of the language. In this regard, there are slang professional, social groups, age groups, etc. The term itself was coined not so long ago, in the early 19th century, and came to us from the English language. What is slang in terms of British lexicographers? A special type of language that wedges into literary speech, leaving in it its unattractive tracks. Of course, the definition is figurative, but there is a big part of the truth in it.

"Foreign" impregnations

If we follow how the requirements to the culture of speech changed over time, then with surprise one can find that a huge number of words that were once slang have now become a literary norm. This applies, for example, to such familiar expressions as internet (internet), keyboard (hard keyboard), hard drive, owl (trade advisor), pipe or mobile phone in the meaning of "mobile phone". Or drove, a bomber, that is, a taxi driver, a person engaged in private transportation. And what is "mp" in slang? It is deciphered in this way: the like. Well-known words - hype, failure, spur - also from slang sources. The main difference between this layer of vocabulary from vernaculars, vulgarisms, etc.: it is most actively used among intelligent, educated people of various professions.

Sphere of use

Slang is the prerogative of individual social, professional, age and other groups. This includes argo - thieves and criminal jargon, as well as "fenu" - the language of thieves and tramps. Specific language of military, sports fans, teachers and journalists, etc. - professional slang. But the main "supplier" of new words and expressions in general literary vocabulary are young people - boys and girls from 13-15 to 25 years. What is youth slang, vividly demonstrate such bright nominative units as: "cool" - cool, "cool" - wonderful, "cool" - prestigious, "garbage" - a trifle, nonsense. This type of speech is characterized by a coarse-familiar color. Linguists distinguish such lexical-semantic groups of words related to youth slang:

• Person / people: dude, old man, heifer, defka, friend / girlfriend (people who have intimate relationships), ace, laces;
• Appearance / clothes: outfit, packed, rag-tag, steep, dropy;
• Pastime / leisure: party, diskach, fiesta, pinned, tear off, baldet, etc.

It should be noted that youth slang is an extremely mobile phenomenon, constantly changing. It is formed most often as a derivative of already existing normative lexicon and on the basis of foreign borrowings.