Chapter 1. The definition of slang as in the world culture

1. Definition of slang

[The origin of the word slang is regarded as uncertain or unknown by most linguists and lexicographers. One notable exception is Skeat, the lexicographer behind “A Concise Etymological Dictionary of the English Language”, who claims that slang is of Scandinavian origin and a derivation of Icelandic slyngva, which can be  compared with the Norwegian verb slengja (‘to sling the jaw’) and the Norwegian noun slengjeord  (‘slang word’), used for insulting words. This, according to the later sources the origin of the word slang is still wrapped in obscurity.

Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's dialect or language. It is often used to identify with one's peers and, although it may be common among young people, it is used by people of all ages and social groups. “Collins English Dictionary” describes slang as: "Vocabulary that is not appropriate to the standard form of a language or to formal contexts, may be restricted as to social status or distribution, and is characteristically more metaphorical and transitory than standard language". “The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar” describes it as: "Words, phrases, and uses that are regarded as informal and are often restricted to special contexts or are peculiar to specific profession, classes etc". Jonathan Green in book “The Cassell Dictionary of Slang” describes slang as: "A counter language, the language of the rebel, the outlaw, the despised and the marginal".

The dating of slang words and phrases is exceptionally difficult due to the nature of slang. Slang, more than any other language, remains spoken and resists being recorded on paper (or for that matter any other form of medium). By the time slang has been written down, it has been in use some time and has, in some cases, become almost mainstream. Some of these reasons are: trends, popularity of the common words and their connection to the surrounding situations.

The first recorded uses of slang in Britain occurred in the 16th century in the plays of Thomas Dekker, Thomas Middleton and William Shakespeare. The first books containing slang also appeared around this time: Robert Copland's “The hue way to the Spytlellhous”, was a dialogue in verse between Copland and the porter of St Bartholomew's hospital, which included Thieves. The Caveat contained stories of vagabond life, a description of their society and techniques, a taxonomy of rogues, and a short canting dictionary which was later reproduced in other works.

In 1698 the New Dictionary of the Canting Crew by B. E. Gent was published, which additionally included some 'civilian' slang terms. It remained the predominant work of its kind for much of the 18th century, until the arrival in 1785 of The Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue by Captain Francis Grose which ran to more than five expanded editions. Grose's book was eventually superseded by John Camden Hotten's Slang Dictionary in 1859. It was not until the 1950s that slang began to make regular appearances in books and the relatively new mediums of motion pictures and television2].