Slang

So to return to that question: what becomes of slang? Firstly, the general ‘flattening out’ of a hierarchical society and the relaxation of linguistic prejudices mean that slang may come to be seen not as something inherently substandard, but as an option among many available linguistic styles. At the same time there must always be a set of words and phrases which is beyond the reach of most speakers, that is always ‘deviant’, ‘transgressive’ and opaque. This slang must renew itself, not just in implied contrast with ‘standard’ Introduction language, but with earlier versions of itself. So new slang words will continue to sprout, to metamorphose, to wither and disappear or else to spread and fertilize the common ground of language [25]. This process may now be more visible and familiar, the crossover phenomenon may happen much faster (given the complicity of the media), and the shock value of the terms themselves may be lessened (the invention and use of slang does risk becoming locked into familiarity and cliché, like the tired gestures of rock, rap, conceptual art and fashion), but it is very unlikely ever to stop.

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

1. Арнольд И.В. Лексикология  современного английского языка.: учебник для ин-тов и фак.  иностр. языка.- 3-е издание, перераб  и доп.- М.: Высшая школа, 1986.- 295с.

2. Голденков М.А. Осторожно! Hot Dog!:Современный активный английский.- ТОО "ЧеРо",1999-148с.

3. Каушанская Л.В. Грамматика  английского языка.: Учебник для  студ. пед.институтов.- 4-е издание.- Л.: Просвещение,1973.- 319с.

4. Раевская Н.М.. Теоретическая грамматика современного английского языка.: Для студентов факультетов романо-германской филологии университетов и педагогических институтов иностранных языков (на английском языке).-К.: Высшая школа,1976.- 383с.

5. Richard A. Spears, Ewart James, Ewart James NTC's Super-Mini British Slang Dictionary ,NTC Publishing Group

6. Eble, C. Slang and Sociability. London and Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1996.

7.Dumas, Bethany K. and Jonathan Lighter. 1978. "Is Slang a Word for Linguists?" American Speech 53: 5-17.

8. Mattiello Elisa. The Pervasiveness of Slang in Standard and Non- Standard English.- Mots Palabras Words-6/2005.-41p.

9. Thorne Tony. Dictionary of Contemporary Slang.-third edition.; A.C.Black, London, 2007.-513p.

10. .Pavlova . N.V., Kuleshova Y.A.. Slang as a Part of the English Language.-English 2003 №32-p.5-10

11 Ayto John, The Oxford Dictionary of Slang.-Oxford University, Press.: 2000-415p.

12.Crystal D., The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language.-Cambridge University: Press. 1996-712p.

13. Baker B. // Adventures of Slangman.- Los Angeles Times, September 29, 2003

14. Thorne T. Slang, style-shifting and sociability.// Multicultural Perspectives on English Language and Literature -Tallinn/London 2004.

15. www. lexscripta.com/desktop/dictionaries/

16. www.ask.com/ questions-about/British-slang

17. www.rapidsteps.com/en/ru/blogs/tags/London

18. www.slanginsider.com

19. www.cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk.

20. www. coolquiz.com/trivia/Britain/britishisms

21. www. coolslang.com/british/

22. http:// odps.org/

23. www.arrse. co.uk/wiki/

24. www.urbandictionary.com.

25. www. English.language.ru/ slang/

26. elemeln.narod.ru/pages/langs/slang

27. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_slang

28. www.learnenglish.de/slang/moneyslang

29. english4fun.ru/slang

30. www.funeasyenglish.com.american_english_slang

31. www.peevich.co.uk/slang

32. www.londonslang.com

34. http:/English.globino.info/Slang

35. http:// duermueller.tripod.com/slang

 

 

 

Supplment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dictionary of youth slang during 1960-70’s

 

acid (n) LSD, a narcotic drug popular among hippies. see psychedelic, bad trip.

afro (n) haircut popular among African-americans during 1960's and '70's.

aquarian (adj.) we're not sure exactly what this means, but it has something to do with the "Age of Aquarius" and the musical Hair.

bad scene (n) a bad situation. see scene.

bad trip (n) originally described a bad experience using drugs, characterized by frightening hallucinations. Can be used to describe any bad experience.

bag (n) one's main interest or purpose in life.

black light (n) a decorative light, dark blue in color to the human eye, which makes objects or artwork in flourescent colors appear to glow.

blow your mind (v) to have an enlightening or illuminating experience.

bread (n) money.

bummer (n) bad experience.

bust (v) to arrest someone, (n) an arrest.

cat (n) a person. derived from beatnik language of the 1950's.

chick (n) a girl or woman.

commune (n) an community of people who share possessions, living accomodations, and work (or lack thereof). Usually encompasses a farm and other fashionable industries.

crash (v) to sleep, rest, or do nothing.

crash pad (n) a place where one sleeps, rests, or does nothing.

dig (v) like, enjoy, be interested in.

drag (n) an unfavorable situation or state of affairs.

dude (n) person, usually male.

establishment, the (n) traditional business and government institutions, believed to stand in the way of human progress. see "system, the."

far out (adj) very interesting, good. Also an exclamation.

free love (n) love without expectations or commitment.

fuzz (n) police.

get it on (n) successfully interact with others.

groove (v) enjoy, achieve proficiency at. see "groovy."

groovy (adj) good, interesting, enjoyable.

hang out (v) to be some place, usually doing nothing, with no purpose.

hang-up (n) inhibition, usually due to morals, beliefs, or culture.

happening (adj) exciting, new, good.

heavy (adj) thought-provoking.

hippie (n) [still searching for a definition here]. hip (adj) knowledgable of, or consistent with, the latest trends and ideas.

Iron Butterfly (n) a rock band which had one popular song, "Inna Gadda Da Vida."

lava lamp (n) a cylindrical glass container filled a semi-solid viscous material which breaks apart and forms globules while floating in a clear fluid.

like (?) word used to fill up space in an utterance when the speaker is unable to think of a suitable adjective to describe something. Use of this word has also been adopted by adjective-challenged subcultures of more recent generations.

love beads (n) colorful beads worn around the neck to symbolize love.

man (interjection) used as an exclamation to draw attention to one's utterance. related phrase: "hey, man."

mood ring (n) a ring worn on the finger which contains a large stone, the color of which is supposed to indicate the wearer's emotional mood. Mood rings were a fad in the mid-1970's.

oh wow (interjection) exclamation uttered in response to new, thought-provoking, or exciting information.

out of sight (adj) excellent, outstanding. Often used as an exclamation. 
pad (n) living accomodation--house or apartment.

peace (n) absence of war.

psychedelic (adj) of or related to a mental state characterized by a profound sense of intensified sensory perception, sometimes accompanied by severe perceptual distortion, hallucinations, or extreme feelings of euphoria or despair. see acid.

rap (v,n) to talk, conversation. More recently used to name a category of music where words are spoken, rather than sung.

San Francisco (n) worldwide center of hippie activity and general weirdness.

scene (n) place, situation, or circumstances.

sock it to me (phrase) let me have it.

spaced out (adj) dazed, not alert.

split (v) to leave, depart.

square (adj) old-fashioned, not aware of new thinking and customs. (n) one who is square.

system, the (n) the system of laws, governance, and justice. see "establishment, the".

tie dye (v) a method of coloring clothing where the article of clothing is tied in knots, then dying it to produce an abstract pattern. (n) an article of clothing dyed in this manner.

trip (n) an unusual experience. (v) to have an unusual experience.

turn on (v) to become enlightened to new ways of thinking or experiencing reality.

uptight (adj) concerned about maintaining set ways of thinking and doing things.

 

 

Dictionary of modern British slang

These phrases are in everyday use around most of Britain.

Phrase Meaning

 

99 a popular style of ice cream, usually ordered with a 'flake'

'A' levels exams taken at age 18

abso-bloody-lutely a more definite form of 'absolutely'

afters dessert

aggro trouble; violence

all broke up on holiday, usually from school

all of a twitter very nervous or apprehensive

aluminium aluminum

arse bottom, or ass

arse bandit a homosexual

arse over tit to fall head over heels

arse about playing around, being silly

e.g. "stop arsing about!"

artic an articulated lorry; a bick truck

Aussie an Australian

backhander a bribe

bag an unattractive or elderly woman

balderdash rubbish; nonsense

balls-up a mess; a confusion

banger (1) an old car; (2) a sausage

barking mad crazy

batty dotty; crazy

beak magistrate

beehive a tall hairstyle

bees knees something really good

beetle crusher a boot; a foot

behind bottom; buttocks

berk a stupid person

e.g. "you silly berk"

bevvy a drink

bit of fluff a pretty young single woman

bill, the police, sometimes called "the old bill"

binge a drinking bout

bin liner garbage bag

bin men garbage collectors

bint a rough girl

biro a ballpoint pen

bit of alright something highly satisfactory

black maria a police van

black pudding a sausage like food made from

 - pigs blood

 - oats

 - fat

black sheep of the family a relative who gets into trouble with the police

blag a robbery; to rob

blagger a robber

Blighty England

blimey ! an expression of surprise

blob a contraceptive

blotto drunk

blower telephone

blow your own trumpet to brag; to boast

bobby dazzler a remarkable person or thing

bog a toilet, a washroom

bollock naked stark naked

bollocks testicles

bonce head

bonk to copulate

bonnet hood of a car

bookie betting shop owner

boot trunk of a car

boracic penniless

bosch a derogative term for germans

bovver trouble

bovver boot a heavy boot, possibly with a toe cap and laces

quite often worn by skinheads

bovver boy a hooligan; a troublemaker

brass monkey weather cold, taken from the phrase, "it's cold enough

to freeze the balls off a brass monkey"

breakdown van a tow truck

brickie a bricklayer

brill ! short form of brilliant, meaning fantastic

brolly an umbrella

browned off bored; fed up

Brummy a native of Birmingham

bubble and squeak fried cabbage and potatoes

bubbly champagne

bugger all nothing; very little

bumming a fag requesting a cigarette

 e.g. "Can I bum a fag from you mate ?"

Note: This has a VERY different meaning

in the U.S.

bunch of fives a fist

"button it !" "be quiet !"

caff a cafe

cake hole a person's mouth

cardy abbreviation of cardigan

champers champagne

char tea; a domestic worker

cheeky monkey a rude person

cheesed off bored; fed up

chin chin a drinking toast

chippy a fish and chip shop; a carpenter

chokey prison

chuffed very pleased or proud

clapped out worn out, broken

clappers to go very fast; to work hard

e.g. That car goes like the clappers !

e.g. I have to work like the clappers

to finish it by lunchtime !

clickety click 66 in bingo calling

clink prison

clinker somebody who is outstanding

clobber clothing

clodhopper a clumsy person

clogger a soccer player who tackles heavily

clot a fool

cloth-ears a person with a poor sense of hearing

cobblers testicles; rubbish

cock and bull a story with very little truth in it

cock up to ruin something

e.g. "it was a real cock-up"

e.g. "haved you cocked it up ?"

coffin nail a cigarette

conk nose

conkers a childrens game played with horse chestnuts

copper police man/woman

cough up to pay

crackers crazy

cracking great; fantastic

crackling a woman who is regarded as a sexual object

crate an old name for a very old plane

create to make a fuss or an angry scene

crown jewels male genitalia

crumbly an old or senile person

crumpet a desirable woman

dabs fingerprints

daft stupid

dark horse somebody who suprises others by their actions

des res Estate agents use this to describe a

"desirable residence"

dial face

dickie bow a bow tie

diddicoy a gipsy

dip a pickpocket

dishy good looking

do a runner to leave quickly avoiding punishment

doddle easy

dog's bollocks something really good

dog's breakfast a mess

donkey's breakfast a straw hat

doodah to be in a state of excitement

e.g. "He was all in a doodah !"

doolally scatter-brained; crazy

doorstep a thick sandwich

dosh money

doss house a cheap lodging house

dosser a tramp

do the dirty on to play a mean trick on

dough money

droopy drawers an untidy or sloppy person

drop a sprog have a baby

drum a house or flat

duffer a stupid person

dummy a baby's pacifier

earful to get a shouting

e.g. "My mum gave me a right earful !"

easy-peasy something very simple

earner a lucrative job or task

elevenses morning tea break

extracting the urine see "taking the piss"

fab fabulous; wonderful

face-ache a miserable looking person

fag cigarette

fag-end a cigarette butt

fence a receiver of stolen goods

filth, the police

fishy about the gills looking the worse for drink

fizzog face

flake a stick that is made up of flaky

pieces of chocolate

flicks, the the cinema

flog to sell

footy football; soccer

fuzz, the police

gamboll a somersault done on the ground

gamp an umbrella

gentleman's gentleman a valet

Geordie a native of Newcastle

gift of the gab being very free with speech

git an insult

e.g. "You stupid git !"

give it a whirl try it out

give someone the pip to get on someone's nerves

gob mouth

gobsmacked speechless

goes like stink very fast

good nick very good condition

gooseberry a fifth wheel

goosegog a gooseberry

go to the dogs to go to ruin

grass, grasser an informant

hang about wait a moment

hell for leather very fast

hols holidays

home and dry to be safe

hush silence

inexpressibles trousers

in good fettle in good health

in the altogether nude

in the know to have inside information

in the noddy nude

jam packed very full

jar a drink, usually a pint of beer

jelly jello

jerry a chamber pot

jerry builder a builder of unsubstantial houses

Jock a scottish person

Jonah a bringer of bad luck

jumped up to be conceited

jumper sweater

keep you hair on please calm down

kick the bucket to die

kissed the Blarney Stone a person who tells tall stories

knackered tired, worn out

derived from horses being taken to the

'knackers yard'

knockers breasts

leg it ! quick lets run !