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SPECIFIC FEATURES OF WORD FORMATION AND FUNCTIONING OF
SLANG UNITS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Kemalatdinova Jakhangul Polatbayevna graduate student
of Uzbek state world languages university scientific advisor:
Alimova G. Y.
Abstract
:
English slang, a colloquial or familiar type of speech in a specific area, is one
of the subsystems of the English language. It is usually classified as a social dialect. The
term “slang” usually refers to something that does not coincide with the norm of the
literary language. Linguistics of the last twenty years has actively switched from the
study of written language to the study and analysis of direct live communication.
Functional varieties of the use of the language are derivative from the colloquial forms.
The study of colloquial speech is extremely important because spoken language is the
only true language and the norm for evaluating all other forms of speech.
Key words:
slang, discourse, sociolect, context, word formation
The rising interest in language determines the relevance of researching a variety
of collective linguistic subjects as one of the categorizing foundations of the nature of
different types of communication.
Slang is a social variety of a language used by a more or less limited number of
people and differing in its structure (phonetics, grammar and semantics) from the
standard normative language. Standard language, on the contrary, is an exemplary,
normalized language, the norms of which are perceived as correct and obligatory, and
which is opposed to dialects and vernacular, whereas slang is inherent in a particular
group.
In modern linguistics the term “slang” is used in several senses because of the
shift in its meaning. This complicates the understanding of the specifics of the grouping
of the vocabulary of the English language designated by it. Therefore, before talking
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about the variety of ways of word formation, one should dwell on the main division of
all slang units into general and special.
General slang is a commonly understood and widespread in colloquial speech
figurative words and phrases of emotional and evaluative coloring, claiming novelty
and originality in these qualities and acting as synonyms for words and phrases of the
literary language. Special slang includes words and phrases of certain social strata or
professional jargon [Viluman, 1960 p.137].
I.
V. Arnold offers a similar division of slang into general and special, which
is based on the characteristics of the sphere of use. However, she notes that according
to the semantic system of the vocabulary of the English language, if slang denotes a
new and necessary concept, they can gain a foothold in standard English. If the
semantics of slangism is marked only by novelty, then the existence of such a unit does
not differ in particular duration, it disappears from the language, thus forming the most
variable part of the vocabulary of the language [Arnold, 1959 p.251].
For a deeper and more detailed description and explanation of the mechanisms of
using the language elements of interest, the individual often resorts to the selection of
such theoretical tools that would be able to correspond to the properties of the selected
material and which could reflect the functional component of a language unit in a
particular context. A similar theory, which was able to contain “a sufficiently broad
context for structural units of the utterance level”, carries the name linguistic pragmatics
[Dranko, 2006]. During pragmatically directed research, linguists developed a
conceptual framework and examined a number of phenomena as products of the
functioning of the language.
Sociolect or slang is a is a pragmatic discourse since it actualizes a certain kind of
communicative verbal strategy. A communicative strategy is understood as a supertask
emanating from the addressee, which is aimed at achieving a practical or
communicative goal and is designed to produce a perlocutionary effect: manipulation
of the feelings and thoughts of the individual. In other words, the pragmatic orientation
of any youth text or statement, first of all, lies in the irresistible intention of prompting
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the addressee to make a decision that is beneficial to the manipulator or simply to
retaliate.
The formation of the slang dictionary occurs due to the same sources and means
that are characteristic of the language in general and the English language in particular.
The difference between word formation in the language as a whole and specifically the
formation of slang units is only in proportions and combinations [Kulkarni et.al., 2018].
All the main types of word formation are represented in the youth vocabulary:
conversion, affixation, compounding, contraction, etc.
The main role in replenishing this stylistic group in the English language is played
by the rethinking of words in connection with their figurative use, narrowing and
expanding of the meaning. Many slang words arise by shortening and blending of the
words [Roth-Gordon, 2022]. The role of affixation in the formation of slang words is
insignificant. Borrowings that have undergone phonetic adaptation and rethinking are
also a productive way of slangisms formation.
Let’s consider some features of word formation that clearly reflect the general
trends in English slang.
1.
Reverse word formation: to crack wise - “wisecrack”;
2.
Borrowings from other languages: “adobe” - series of computer programs used
by designers (from Spanish “adobe” - a kind of clay used as a building material);
3.
Affixation (from the Latin “affixus” - attached) - a way of forming words with
the help of affixes, that is, attaching affixes to the root or stem of a word. Affixes do not
exist in languages outside of words; they accompany the root, serving for word
formation and inflection. For example: “cutie” is a quality of one’s personality, “hacker”
is a fanatic programmer, “crocky” - gentle, afraid of changes;
4.
Abbreviations: lol - laughing out loud, msg - message, imo - in my opinion;
5.
Metaphorization is one of the most productive ways to replenish the
vocabulary of slangisms. The presence of metaphors and metonyms in the youth
language is explained by the tendency towards expressiveness and the desire for specific
images: “hold on to your socks” - to hold on; “to put a blow-torch” - give a magic kick;
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“stay kind” - be healthy; “to peak career-wise” - take up a career; “to shake a bit”, “to
bust out some moves” - to dance.
Summarizing the above, the main functions performed by slangisms are:
expressive, communicative, cognitive, nominative, ideological, esoteric, identification
and time saving functions.
The study of slang is becoming increasingly relevant in the context of expanding
international contacts, helping to better understand the national-specific features of the
mentality of English youth. Knowledge of slang introduces English learners to the
natural language environment, contributes to the development of their communicative
competence. Ignorance of slang leads in the implementation of an act of intercultural
communication to all sorts of curiosities and speech errors, communicative mistakes,
the prevention of which must be given special attention. It should be noted that certain
aspects of this issue can serve as an impetus for further research in this area.
References
1.
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