英语俚语的特征与功能.doc

A Brief Analysis on the Features AndFunctions of English Slang浅谈英语俚语的特征与功能学 院： 外国语学院 专 业： 英 语 方 向： 商务英语 班 级： 2008级（1）班 姓 名： 崔洋 指导教师： 张其 教授 吉林农业大学发展学院 2011年10年30日ContentsAbstract 摘要I. Introduction II. An overview on English slang2.1 Definition of Slang2.2 The Status of Slang in The English LanguageIII. Features of English slang3.1 Vividly3.2 Timeliness3.3 VulgarIV. The function of English slang4.1. Rhetorical functions of English slang4.2. Pragmatic functions of English slang4.3. Social functions of English slangV. ConclusionNotesReferencesAcknowledgementAbstractEnglish slang plays an important role in modern English communication, which is an indispensable part of English language and a mirror of sub-culture. The slang is applied more and more in oral and written communication with its expressiveness and vitality highly valued. Learn English in a foreign country, probably the most interesting is that you can hear a lot of slang. Often listen to those sentences, as if it is not easy knowing immediately what they were saying, listened a few times, I slowly began to understand the meaning of these slang. However, no matter what language they should consider the words of the object, place and time, and some slang are not suitable for use in formal occasions.In this paper, the origin ，definition and features of English slang will be discussed, and the analyses of existence value of English slang from the aspects of refraction function and usage function will be presented as wellKey words: English slang; feature; function摘 要英语俚语起着重要的作用，在现代英语交流，这是一个英语的不可或缺的一部分，他也是亚文化的一面镜子。俚语应用越来越多的口头和书面沟通，其表现力和生命力的得到了高度的重视。国外学习英语，可能是最有趣的是，你可以听到很多俚语。经常听这些句子，但是不容易马上知道他们在说什么，听了几次，慢慢开始了解这些俚语的意思。然而，不管是什么语言，他们应该考虑的对象，地点和时间，和一些俚语是否适合在正式场合使用。英语俚语的起源、定义和特点，在本文中，将进行讨论，折射功能和使用功能方面存在的英语俚语的价值分析以及提出。关键词：英语俚语，特征，功能I. IntroductionSlang often occurs in casual and playful speech，and occupies an important part in the English language with its vividness，liveliness and light-heartedness.The English language，as many languages，contains a rich array of slang words and phrases.A great amount of slang is employed in English speakers daily utterances.In other words，slang has become an important instrument for language communication in the English society.Therefore a probe into linguistic phenomenon paves a way for a better understanding of English society and English society.Every language in the world share one common similarity, that is , the existence of the slang. There is no exception of English. The composer of American Slang Dictionary, Stuart Berg Flexner thinks that there are 10000 or 20000 words used by average Americans. Among them, about one tenth is slang, which is used more often by every American. The “hi”, and “bye-bye” are all slang words. And this shows that slang can be used widely in peoples daily life. In todays vast, lengthy Cihai tens of thousands of words in the English language, slang occupies a large proportion. Definition of slang, different authors and books have different views. Initially, the slang language is considered to be in a serious and solemn work will not be accepted by people as a very casual, informal language, sometimes considered impolite. It is the same as some popular songs, sells quickly and disappear quickly, with strong timing and dialects of.The modern English slang is concise, straightforward and incisive. Just as Harold, the English linguists said: “Slang is more straightforward, more refined and have more characteristics than standard English in communication ”(Catherine,1985). It can transfer new elements to standard English words and generally spoken words, and take an important part in keeping the standard words flowing continuously. In the following parts, I will analyze slang in the aspects of its origin, its social functions and so on.II. An overview on English slangSlang is quite a controversial language, people have different attitudes toward it. It is no wonder that the definition of slang is so various. However, the slang terms have their own characters, and, of course, the definitions of it are more or less described in the same way.Slang is a kind of special language formation. During a long period, there is no united standard rule to define slang. Longman Contemporary Dictionary defines slang as: very informal language that includes new and sometimes rude words, especially words uses only by particular groups of people such as criminals, schoolchildren, or people who take drugs. Concise Oxford Dictionary define the word slang as: the special word, the inferior and vulgar language that are used by certain communities which are born in any lower levels; a certain class or a certain periods term; a kind of more inferior spoken language that often used in a certain kind of group which include new words or generally-used words that contain special meanings(Hornby,2005). Seen from the above, slang belongs to the sociology category rather than a pure linguistic notion. By putting it in the frame of modern society and cultural theory, we can understand its core connotation better. We must pay attention to that it is using slang that marks the social diversity. The understanding and usage of slang words not only surpass its original meaning or special meaning of this sub-cultural group, but also have a definite social purpose.The English slang at first originated in the collected place where assembled variety of people in the ancient counties and towns, and it flourished in the mid-century cities where many kinds of work co-existed dependently. In the 19th century, for the similar but more complicated reasons, slang had been a part of modern city life. More exactly, now, slang mainly has been a part of modern social lives. Seen from the essence, slang rooted from variety of social organizations, and at the same time, it can be used to protect and change the privilege relationship of social structure or social group in a certain degree. Slang is a many-faceted, complicated and dynamic term, which is the unavoidable cultural production made by the highly co-existed modern society. At the primary time, slang means cant or used as an exclusive term by the inferiors and criminal community members. As time goes on, the concept of slang is gradually evolved to all kinds of sub-cultural groups term. After middle 19th century, the main use of slang is to limit the usage of words of certain kind of sub-cultural group members in internal groups, so that they can differ themselves from other groups. For this reason, people who do not belong to this group can hardly understand those special terms. Definition of Slang and Its Status in English Language The term “slang” has a long history in the English language.It evolves and develops from very birth.Thus，its definition is not with a limited number.As a special linguistic phenomenon，it plays an important role of its own in the whole English language system.In the several definition will be covered and its status will be discussed.2.1 Definition of Slang “Slang is a term conveniently designates words and phrases diverging markedly in social ambiance，use，and style from those of the standard lexicon”(Zhang Xuemei，2001)The word “slang” of uncertain origin has been dated to about 1750 and was soon thereafter defined at least once as “street language”.Slang oringinally denoted cant，or the restricted speech of the law，especially the criminal classes.However，the idea of slang gradually but unconventional vocabulary.After 1850，the meaning of slang broadened to include the special vocabulary of a particular calling or professing:printers slang，even the slang vocabulary of doctors and lawyers.Then some people，begin to notice the positive side of slang，and set to raise their voice to speak for slang.Even though，slang was still not accepted with general good grace.Slang was recognized as the lowest words only used by the dangerous classes and the lowest grades of the society（Wu Shuwei，2002）With the elapse of time and the development science，people tned to view the world in a more objective and scientific way.So is peoples attitude towards slang:1) A kind of language occurring chiefly in casual and playful speech，made up tepically of short-lived coinages and figures of speech that are deliberately used in place of standard terms for added raciness，hunor，irreverence，or other effect.2) A characteristic language of a particular group(as among thieves)；syn：cant，jargon，lingo，argot(Jonathan E. 1994)Slang develops from the attempt to find fresh and vigorous，colorful，pungent or numerous expression，and generally either processes into disuse or comes to have a more formal status.This definition is a comprehensive and satisfying so far.Because it not only denotes the overall evolution of slangs connotation in different stages，but points out the user，characteristics，formation，and even the motive of slang.However，this more objective definition doesnt present the scope，flavor or distinction from other synonyms，such as cant，jargon and dialect.But nowadays，with the development of society，the definition of slang is becoming more reasonable.2.2 The Status of Slang in The English LanguageWhereas slang was once considered as the lowest form of communication，many now consider slang to be an intelligent and insightful variation to the blandness of the standard language.Slang，as a language variety，occupies a unique position in the English language . It is surveyed that on the scale used to indicate a words status in the language，slang ranks third behind standard and colloquial(or in formal)and before cant.As a matter of fact，slang finds its presence in almost every field and it is spoken by people from all walks of life.Consequently there are college slang，military slang，prison slang，hospital slang，rock slang，gay slang，so on and so forth. Slang is omnipresent in the English language. Nowadays，slang has become an instrument for language communication in English societies. Its rarely the first choice of .careful writers or speakers or anyone attempting to use language for formal，persuasive or business purpose. Nevertheless expressions that can be called slang make up certain part of English communication in movies，televisions，radios，newspapers，magazines and informal conversations. It makes itself heard not only in the street，at the bar，but in the prison，the pulpit，and even in the House of parliament，its artistic possibilities have also been realized through masterpieces of such well-known writer as Williams Shakespeare，Mark Twain or O.Henry. In America，slang“forms about 10 percent of the words known”(Zhang Xuemei，2001). So，its hard to imagine that one person who knows little slang can understand every sentence in the movies or popular novels，and know its humor among every sentence.Thus slang becomes more and more popular in English language，and people become more interested in it.III. Features of English slangEnglish Slang, as a part of English words, full of expression, color, imagination and humor(戴小冰,2003). It shows that on the one hand, American youths want to be themselves and desire to display their own characteristics; on the other hand, the use of slang can dispose their vanity of purchasing trend and their fragile soul of following the popular blindly. For one thing, slang can show the living condition and value orientation of youths in a certain period, so it has distinctive time feature, such as groupie, which appeared in 1960s in America. This word was only used to describe the fantastic fans following the popular philharmonic when they made their circuit tour of performances. For another, slangs epidemic just indicates its transient and changeable features. This expression may be popular in this time, but it will be outdated some years later or tens of years later. For example, in 1960s, the representative characters are hippies, they wore ragged clothes, purchased drugs and advocate sexual liberation; in 1980s, the representative characters are yuppies, they wore western-style clothes, preferred wealth and material enjoyment; while now, yettie step on the grand stages. Their unique dressing styles make themselves distinct from others: they wear leisure style, mobile phones, and skateboard. And they also express their own independent value view put the technology at the top place and think science and technology can bring human more free space. Americans are not punctilious and sometimes dissipated, so they dare to show their likes or dislikes and always use slang with strong color in emotion, and exaggerate speech as possible as they can. For example, the word dirty（脏的）, do not mean its original intention in the following sentence: I hear that its a dirty movie. In this sentence, dirty is exaggerated and intensified and means filthy. We can see many harsh mocks and ruthless humiliations in slang. For example, highfalutin means “stand high and look down upon others”. This word is made by adapting high-floating to reach a tone of ironic. Another word gross, which means uncouth and disgusted is now used by youths in any dissatisfactory occasions. From the first years strict limitation and prescription to slang, to the frequently use by now, we can see the growing popularity and vitality in American slang culture. English Sangs Features Will Enable People To More Extensive and Accurate To The Use Of ItSlang is generated from real-life spoken，most vividly. As many people understand and use it, with some social groups and subcultures of informal spoken language of color, in peoples daily life plays an important role. The article on the principles of English slang and Translation feature to make a study, and thus achieve the accuracy of their translations. 3.1 VividlyDescribed as government officials of the scandal is known as Water Gate event (originally referred to the Watergate); Wheeler dealer refers to Le Gavroche, good communication ; brain drain is called Brain drain and so on. Again, Play hooky that truancy, To come down to brasstacks meaning according to direct that, do not beat around the bush; cigarette is called Cancer stick (because smoking can cause cancer); flattering to be called the Apple- polishing; work soldiering was hailed as the Clock watcher. . . Both of these novel and vivid slang, sounds amusing, humorous and refreshing.3.2 TimelinessSince the emergence and demise of slang may have high-born and high death feature, for the translators who will have to master the most effective, popular slang expression difficult. Mostly due to the long term use of the standard, even if the image contains a vivid, lively and not so new. With a heavy drinker or drunkard to describe the person alcohol, it becomes very plain; and slang bottle-man very image of the words in Chinese as bottles. In fact, many slang itself is a rhetorical grid, for example, babbling brook metaphor nagging woman, hound dog used to describe the pursuit of the goat into a woman. A large number of old or obsolete slang into standard vocabulary and spoken word, new slang and new slang meaning of old have emerged, only a few words are preserved, is still regarded as slang, such as one-horse (meaning small , from one-horse town) produced in 1850, but its history is nothing but one hundred in the coming year, might soon be obsolete. It is because of the ever-changing slang updated, so slang can permanently maintain its vivid novelty.3.3 VulgarBecause most of the early slang terms from criminal gangs and the underworld, later gradually extended to all social subculture, the main source of todays slang is a variety of socio-professional and subculture jargon or lingo, and even macabre Taboo, so its vulgar shows in general, for example: Hit the hay (sleep), He is pretty lousy (that people are really poor effort), Have a fag (cigarette) Look at that chick (see that Dolls), etc. Are relatively crude type of slang or a lack of courtesy.IV. The function of English slang4.1. Rhetorical functions of English slangSlang is mainly used in spoken language. With its rich and plentiful of connotation color and expression, it can arise the speaking atmosphere. Through the rhetorical methods such as metaphor, euphemism, exaggeration, metonymy, etc, we can convey our implicit intention more lifelike by using slang words, so that to reflect the banter, ironic, mock, pejoration and vulgar connotation. Using metaphoric slang words properly in spoken English or literary works can enrich the standard language, enliven the atmosphere, and at the same time avoid the rigid and stiff situation. For example, word dish, which means plate originally, can be analogized to a beautiful girl. For example, I was thinking this was going to be my favorite dish. Another example, rug, which means carpet, can be analogized in slang to wig(假发)( 邓炎昌,1991)。In some conditions, people need a kind of conservative way to express themselves, to avoid saying sth directly by using ordinary words. Euphemistic slang can just help people to solve this problem. There are not few words to express “pregnancy” in slang, e.g. to be in the family way, to be in a delicate condition, to wear the apron high, etc. To describe a fat person, we can use portliness. The use of euphemism can not only enrich the English vocabulary, but also make the speech jocular and humorous, lively and implicit.The use of slang can also intensify the intention of irony or strengthen the power of exaggeration so as to express the speakers strong feeling and to shock the audience. For exampl