Topical issues of language training
in the globalized world
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THE LINGUISTIC STATUS OF SLANG IN MODERN LINGUISTICS
Khojiyeva Mahzuna graduate student of Uzbek State World
Languages University scientific advisor: Kuldashev A.M.
Associate professor at
Uzbek State World Languages University
Abstract:
Slang occupies an important place in the communicative field of society.
Since the vocabulary that is part of slang has special features that are not characteristic
of the literary language, this phenomenon attracts the attention of linguists, it is the
subject of research in world linguistics. In addition, slang is often used outside of one
social group, its use affects literary norm, which leads to its gradual transformation.
Key words:
slang, jargon, sociolect, linguistic universal, globalization
Today the process of globalization is one of the most pressing topics in the
linguistic studies. Language is an evolving phenomenon. Society does not stand still, it
is constantly developing and improving, and hence the language along with it. Since
globalization affects the political, economic and cultural spheres of life, it also concerns
the language. According to R. Robertson [1987], globalization is a process of ever-
increasing impact on the social reality of individual countries of various factors of
international significance: economic and political ties, cultural and information
exchange, etc. [Robertson, 1987]. Significant changes in the social life of countries that
speak a particular language are also reflected in changes in the language and its
vocabulary. Thus, some words regularly disappear from linguistic use, new ones appear,
and some old words acquire new meanings.
Since slang is used in various areas of public life, it is a living and dynamic entity
and an integral part of the modern language. In this regard, it seems important to
consider the definition of slang, referring to its etymology, as well as to study modern
approaches to its interpretation.
Language is the basis of the culture of any nation. Language is the cultural
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heritage of the people, which includes such definitions as traditions, customs, folklore,
etc., and any changes in the language lead to an imbalance in the cultural sphere of
people. Language, speech is a sign of belonging of its carriers to a certain society. And
slang, like jargon is characteristic in any language.
Until now, the phenomenon of slang remains an open question for many linguists
and lexicographers. There is no single definition of the term “slang” at the moment, so
there are many contradictions. Many linguists confuse the concepts behind the terms
“slang”, “jargon”, “slang”, “dialect” and “vulgarism”. Some linguists classify slang as
a type of jargon. The etymology of the word “slang” is disputed: there are many theories
in linguistics as to where this concept came from in the language. One of the earliest
interpreters of the etymology of the word “slang” was J. Hotten, who believed that it
comes from the gypsy word “slang”, meaning “secret language” [Ganzel, 1965].
In general, the term slang is closer to the Western (American) linguistic tradition
and in its definition has gone from a broad understanding, when phonetic, lexical,
morphological and syntactic differences with established language norms were summed
up under this term [Galperin, 1956 p.110], to its current state determined by the
following statement: “Slang - A variety of speech characterized by newly coins and
rapidly changing vocabulary, used by the young or by social and professional groups
for ‘in-group’ communication and thus tending to prevent understanding by the rest of
the speech community” [Carter, 2011].
Slang is first and foremost distinguished by emotionally expressive coloring of
the vocabulary. Unlike jargons, it includes lexical units that by origin belong to different
social groups. Slang is common among a large number of people, stable enough for a
specific period of time and heterogeneous in its structure.
Next let us consider the terminology of jargon as linguistic phenomenon. The
term “hargot” is of French origin. Many researchers define it as obscure in origin and
refer to the interpretation of A. Dose (1938-1954), who considered the very lexeme
“hargot” to be related to the French verb hargoter - “to scold” [Lipatov, 2010 p. 53].
The term jargon is expressively interpreted by O. S. Akhmanova as a language used
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(usually in oral communication) by a separate social group or the purpose of linguistic
isolation, separation from the rest of this linguistic community, sometimes for
cryptographic purposes [Akhmanova, 1969 p. 148]. Later, V.N. Yartseva gives a
definition of the term jargon, which lacks such a feature as the sealing of verbal
communication, which used to be characteristic of jargon [Yartseva, 1998 p. 151].
Slang is a linguistic universal, while it is similar to professional and social jargon.
Slang and slang are united by their depreciation, metaphor, as well as the dominance of
the representative function. Jargon is similar to slang in its unboudness. However, slang,
unlike professional and social jargons, is the same for the speech of a large number of
native speakers, regardless of what social or professional groups they are in. In relation
to jargon, slang can be identified as a secondary formation, since it includes lexical units
that belong by origin to different speech layers and is understandable to a fairly wide
range of native speakers of the national language.
Almost all researchers are unanimous, who believe that slang is formed by words
that are opposed to the words of the official, generally accepted language on the
question of the origin of slang. Slangisms can fully understood only by representatives
of the social or professional group that introduced the given word or expression, which
became common over time.
Slang is most representative among young people. Youth slang functions in
youth discourse, which is a communicative entity characterized by a high degree of
expressiveness, humor, and ingenuity in linguistic expression. Changes in the language
structure of young people reflect economic and cultural changes in society [Jones et.al.,
2021].
The presence of a large number of slang units in the language of young people
requires an explanation of the reasons for the emergence of slang and replenishment of
its vocabulary, which in turn are determined by the functions of slang units. Youth slang
performs communicative, nominative, cognitive, ideological, conspiratorial, signal,
expressive and language economy functions.
An analysis of the interpretations of the concept of “slang” by encyclopedic,
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linguistic dictionaries and its definitions by linguists showed that there are a fairly large
number of definitions of slang, often contradicting each other. Slang reflects the lifestyle
of the society that created it. Youth slang is primarily a way of creative selfexpression
of a person, a kind of tool that makes him extraordinary, but at the same time brings
him closer to his peers.
This interlocution type involves the creation of the most favorable psychological
conditions for communication, and unity of views, as well as the need to assert oneself.
All of the above makes communication with comrades more valuable and exciting.
To conclude, the topic under consideration allows us to form an idea of the value
of the way modern youth perceive the world through the language. The prospects of this
work lie in expanding the research material, in particular, in attracting linguistic
materials of different origins as an empirical base for comparative analysis. In this
regard, today there is a tendency for slang to go beyond the lexicon used in any
particular area of use.
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