Read complete books and articles on: Slang

Slang - vernacular vocabulary not generally acceptable in formal usage. It is notable for its liveliness, humor, emphasis, brevity, novelty, and exaggeration. Most slang is faddish and ephemeral, but some words are retained for long periods and eventually become part of the standard language (e.g., phony, blizzard, movie). On the scale used to indicate a word's status in the language, slang ranks third behind standard and colloquial (or informal) and before cant. Slang often conveys an acerbic, even offensive, no-nonsense attitude and lends itself to poking fun at pretentiousness. Frequently grotesque and fantastic, it is usually spoken with intent to produce a startling or original effect. It is especially well developed in the speaking vocabularies of cultured, sophisticated, linguistically rich languages. Characteristically individual, slang often incorporates elements of the jargons of special-interest groups (e.g., professional, sport, regional, criminal, and drug subcultures). Slang words often come from foreign languages or are of a regional nature. Slang is very old, and the reasons for its development have been much investigated. The following is a small sample of American slang descriptive of a broad range of subjects: of madness—loony, nuts, psycho; of crime—heist, gat, hit, heat, grifter; of women—babe, chick, squeeze, skirt; of men—dude, hombre, hunk; of drunkenness—sloshed, plastered, stewed, looped, trashed, smashed; of drugs—horse, high, stoned, tripping; of caressing—neck, fool around, make out; of states of mind—uptight, wired, mellow, laid back; the verb to go—scram, split, scoot, tip; miscellaneous phrases—you push his buttons,get it together,chill, she does her number, he does his thing, what's her story, I'm not into that.

Bibliography

See H. L. Mencken, The American Language (3 vol., 1936–48); P. Farb, Word Play (1973); J. Green, The Dictionary of Contemporary Slang (1985); R. Chapman, Thesaurus of American Slang (1989); E. Partridge, A Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English (1990); J. E. Lighter, ed., Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang (Vol. I, 1994; Vol. II, 1997).

Show Excerpt Only

11 of the Best Books and Articles on: Slang

as selected by Questia librarians

1.

Shorter Slang Dictionary » Read Now
by Rosalind Fergusson. 249 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library

From abdabs to zit From pillock (14th century) to couch potato (20th century)From She'll be apples (Australia) to the pits (USA)This new collection brings together some 5,000 contemporary slang expressions originating in all parts of the English-speaking world. It gives clear and...
Read More

From abdabs to zit From pillock (14th century) to couch potato (20th century)From She'll be apples (Australia) to the pits (USA)This new collection brings together some 5,000 contemporary slang expressions originating in all parts of the English-speaking world. It gives clear and concise definitions of each word, supplemented by examples of their use and information about where and when they came into being. This entertaining reference work will be of use to students of English at all levels and a source of fascination to word-lovers throughout the world.
Show less
2.

Shorter Dictionary of Catch Phrases: From the Work of Eric Partridge and Paul Beale » Read Now
by Rosalind Fergusson. 170 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library

This collection will appeal to everyone who has ever wondered about the origin of phrases like ""all part of life's rich pattern' and 'long time no see'. It covers a wide range of catch phrases in current use in all parts of the English-speaking world. Most entries are drawn from the second edition...
Read More

This collection will appeal to everyone who has ever wondered about the origin of phrases like ""all part of life's rich pattern' and 'long time no see'. It covers a wide range of catch phrases in current use in all parts of the English-speaking world. Most entries are drawn from the second edition of Eric Partridge's 'A Dictionary of Catch Phrases', but have been completely rewritten in the light of recent research, and there are many additions.
Show less
3.

A Dictionary of Catch Phrases: British and American, from the Sixteenth Century to the Present Day » Read Now
by Paul Beale, Eric Partridge. 389 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library

A catch phrase is a well-known, frequently-used phrase or saying that has 'caught on' or become popular over along period of time. It is often witty or philosophical and this Dictionary gathers together over 7,000 such phrases.
4.

African American English: A Linguistic Introduction ("Slang: Adding Words to the Lexicon" begins on p. 27) » Read Now
by Lisa J. Green. 285 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library

This authoritative introduction to African American English (AAE) is the first textbook to look at the grammar as a whole. Clearly organised, it describes patterns in the sentence structure, sound system, word formation and word use in AAE. The book uses linguistic description and data from...
Read More

This authoritative introduction to African American English (AAE) is the first textbook to look at the grammar as a whole. Clearly organised, it describes patterns in the sentence structure, sound system, word formation and word use in AAE. The book uses linguistic description and data from conversation to explain that AAE is not a compilation of random deviations from mainstream English but that it is a rule-governed system. The textbook examines topics such as education, speech events in the secular and religious world, and the use of language in literature and the media to create black images. This much-needed book includes exercises to accompany each chapter and will be essential reading for students in linguistics, education, anthropology, African American studies and literature.
Show less
5.

Unkind Words: Ethnic Labeling From Redskin to Wasp (Chap. 1 "Ethnic Slurs in Historical American Slang") » Read Now
by Irving Lewis Allen. 148 pgs.

Collections: Psychology, Entire Library

In this extensive study of ethnic labeling in the United States' popular speech and usage, the author explores the major traditional themes behind the development of ethnic slurs. Viewing U.S. slang as a reflection of social diversity, rapid change, and the complexity of U.S. society, Allen gives a...
Read More

In this extensive study of ethnic labeling in the United States' popular speech and usage, the author explores the major traditional themes behind the development of ethnic slurs. Viewing U.S. slang as a reflection of social diversity, rapid change, and the complexity of U.S. society, Allen gives a special insight into the social workings of U.S. culture, both past and present. The book offers an overview of the major traditional themes used in the making of ethnic slurs as well as the most recent fads of covert and devious slurring with codewords and various kinds of sly word games. Unkind Words delivers its message with unusual clarity, that too often shoddy language shapes our thinking about the politics of ethnicity.
Show less
6.

Gender Differences and Sexism in the Knowledge and Use of Slang, in Sex Roles: A Journal of Research » Read Now
by Aryn L. Grossman, Joan S. Tucker. 10 pgs.

Collections: Psychology, Entire Library

...differences and sexism in the knowledge and use of slang. by Aryn L. Grossman , Joan S. Tucker Slang is a nonstandard vocabulary belonging to...considered taboo, vulgar...
7.

Sexual Slang and Gender, in Women and Language » Read Now
by Michael Gordon. 6 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library

...Sexual slang and gender. by Michael Gordon...we might call "dirty words," e.g., sexual slang, obscenity, lewd jokes, etc. Most studies...women on their ability to generate...
8.

Queerly Phrased: Language, Gender, and Sexuality (Chap. 18 "Homophobic Slang as Coercive Discourse among College Students") » Read Now
by Kira Hall, Anna Livia. 460 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library

Queerly Phrased is a groundbreaking collection of previously unpublished essays that examine the relationship between language and the construction of gender and sexuality. Bridging the gap between sociolinguistics and gay studies, the contributors draw on traditional models of language anaylsis of...
Read More

Queerly Phrased is a groundbreaking collection of previously unpublished essays that examine the relationship between language and the construction of gender and sexuality. Bridging the gap between sociolinguistics and gay studies, the contributors draw on traditional models of language anaylsis of well as recent developments in gender theory to show how language plays a crucial role in the creation of culture and its representation.
Show less
9.

Much Ado about "Sweet Bugger All": Getting to the Bottom of a Puzzle in British Folk Speech, in Folklore » Read Now
by Alan Dundes. 15 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library

...though both terms derive similarly from slang idioms for masturbation. And few Americans...even aware of the large number of British slang expressions involving the term...
10.

Mankind, Nation and Individual from a Linguistic Point of View (Chap. VIII "Slang") » Read Now
by Otto Jespersen. 221 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library
11.

Unusual Words and How They Came About (1946) » Read Now
by Edwin Radford. 318 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library

...have merely grown into the language as slang, without any etymological foundation...phrases already exist in the many good slang or colloquial dictionaries on the...