Functionality of Slang
Slang has multiple applications and functionalities and is one of the very things that make language and communication what it is today. Mr. M Alfredo Niceforo, an expert on slang, has researched slang for most of his life. Throughout all of his research he has comprised a list of thirteen scenarios, each providing an example of how slang can be utilized in daily life. This list can be found in at least two different books both by the same author, Eric Partridge; another expert on slang.
"1 In sheer high spirits; just for the fun of the thing'.
2 As an exercise in wit or humor.
3 To be 'different' - to be novel.
4 To be picturesque.
5 To be startling; to startle.
6 To escape from cliches and long-windedness.
7 To enrich the language.
8 To give solidity and concreteness to the abstract
and the idealistic, and nearness to the distant scene or object.
9 To reduce solemnity, pain, tragedy.
10 To put oneself in tune with one's company.
11 To induce friendliness or intimacy.
12 To show that one belongs to a certain school, trade or
profession, intellectual set or social class. In short to be in the
fashion - or to prove that someone else isn't.
13 To be secret - not understood by those around one."
(Partridge).
2 As an exercise in wit or humor.
3 To be 'different' - to be novel.
4 To be picturesque.
5 To be startling; to startle.
6 To escape from cliches and long-windedness.
7 To enrich the language.
8 To give solidity and concreteness to the abstract
and the idealistic, and nearness to the distant scene or object.
9 To reduce solemnity, pain, tragedy.
10 To put oneself in tune with one's company.
11 To induce friendliness or intimacy.
12 To show that one belongs to a certain school, trade or
profession, intellectual set or social class. In short to be in the
fashion - or to prove that someone else isn't.
13 To be secret - not understood by those around one."
(Partridge).
Despite the inaccurate notion that slang comes from punk college kids that are lazy and disrespectful to the ways of society, as pointed out in a seemingly ancient article found in The London Daily Mail, it states, “It was pointed out on this page some little time ago that the use of slang is growing rapidly in circles where one would least expect to hear it. A remarkable fact is that many slang words have a classical origin. For example, the word "mill," a vulgarism for a fight, is traceable to the Greek word "hamilla," which means a combat” (The London Daily Mail 12). Countless words found in the dialogue of this the 21st century can all be traced back to Latin. Although some have been completely and utterly altered from their state of their Latin origin, a minute detail of association and implication is institute to balance.
As the years continue to sail by and words are developed, passed on, and stamped “Out-Dated” it is always interesting to pause, take the time, and think about exactly, “Where did that name come from?” or “Who came up with that?” As new technology surfaces into the streets of humanity, new languages, cultures, and ideas present themselves into the American culture, and new faces are seen in new places, slang will be created and destroyed on a daily, orderly, subjectively and geographically specific basis. Language is and will be forever altered and molded to fit the society it encompasses.